Bread Crumbs

Courage For Purpose

Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished. (1 Chronicles 28:20 NASB)

Living for a purpose takes a lot of courage. As a professional coach, I often strike fear in the hearts of my clients when I encourage them to voice their life goals and aspirations. Some people are afraid to explore the emotions surrounding a life purpose and thus never fully engage in the process. Others, once they discover their purpose get overwhelmed and fearful because the discovery prompts life change.

I wonder what Solomon thought when David told him he was to build a house for God. For GOD. I wonder if panic coursed through His veins as he considered the magnitude of the task and whether or not he could get it right.  I bet he was scared to death.

Yet through his fear he heard the words of his wise father King David, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear…for the LORD God, my God, is with you.” David knew fear and David knew God’s ability to provide. He also knew that one of the best ways to conquer fear was to just start doing. David encouraged his son with the voice of experience.

Solomon knew his father’s God and knew his victories through God. Eventually, he built one of the most magnificent temples in world for God!

We too, can achieve great things when we trust God’s provision for our lives when we are overwhelmed and afraid. What big dream has you shaking? Think of that fear as an opportunity to do great things through God. Be strong and courageous, and act. Take one step toward it today and watch what God can do!

What have you done to overcome fear?  What will you do today to move forward? Share your thoughts in a comment below.

Thanksgiving in Every Season

Tomorrow, people in the United States will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, a time of feasting and celebration of love, life and family in the tradition of our country's founding. However, no matter where you reside in this world, I welcome you to join us in the tradition of being thankful for all that you have.

We can all set aside this day as a day for an attitude of gratitude.

To my of my friends and readers around the globe, I wish you all a wonderful day of Thanksgiving. I am thankful for each one of you and I appreciate your allowing me to speak into your lives. Thank you for speaking into mine.

I will close with the following quote. Read through it thoughtfully and take time to reflect on how you can be thankful even through some of the tough stuff.  All of life, the good and the bad, shapes us into the people and leaders we are today and will be tomorrow. We can be thankful for it all with the right perspective.

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted:
A time to kill, and a time to heal;

Time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing:
A time to gain, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.

Source: Ecclesiastes 3, The Bible: New American Standard Version

What can you be thankful for? Share below as a comment if you so desire!

Wait For Strength

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! - Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)

Who likes to wait? I don't like waiting. I will read chapters at the end of the book in a suspense novel to see if my favorite character lives. I sometimes work harder and take on more than I need to in order to control and speed things up. I've mellowed quite a bit over the years, but at times I still struggle with wanting to "help" God move ahead with His plans for my life.

I find myself waiting on God quite a lot these days. I have to, because a situation is out of my hands. I'm waiting on a person. God's probably waiting on me.

None of us like waiting, yet God says to wait on Him and to not be afraid...

...through the questions
...through the pain, and
...through the tears.

God says that He will strengthen our hearts when they become weak. His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. He uses everything in our lives to mold us and shape us into the people He needs us to be to accomplish our purpose in this life.

We need challenges in order to change.

God leads us to green pastures to high places via dark valleys at times. Through it all, He is always there. Like a child going through a scary place with a parent, we can bury ourselves in Him when the going gets too rough.

Does your heart need strength today? Give God time and just wait. Find some solitude. Turn off the TV, computer and phone, and be still in the silence. Open your Bible to your favorite promise from God and ask Him to put His arms around you and give you peace in the middle of your circumstance. He will strengthen your heart.

Dear Father, I thank you for all of who you are to me and most of all I thank you for your unchanging and unconditional love. Show me where I've failed you. Show me where I've pleased you. Most of all, strengthen my heart, our hearts, as we wait on you. Amen.

Revival Through God's Word

Let my soul live that it may praise Thee, and let thine ordinances help me. (Psalm 119:175)

You don't have to go to a "revival" to be revived. God revives anywhere, as long as His Word is present. This morning as I was going through my daily Bible reading plan I experienced somewhat of a "revival" of my own. Actually, it was more of a discovery than a revival, but it sure put a smile on my face.

Did you know that the phrase "revive me" or "revived me" is found eleven times in the 119th Psalm (NASB)? Neither did I until this morning! According to this Psalm, God revives us through His Word, His righteousness, and His lovingkindness. He gives us provision when we so desperately need it. Read through the following list and see what resonates with you today. Something will. I guarantee it.

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My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Thy Word. (v 25)

Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in thy ways. (v 37)

Behold, I long for Thy precepts; Revive me through Thy righteousness. (v 40)

This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy Word has revived me. (v 50)

Revive me according to Thy lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Thy mouth. (v 88)

I will never forget Thy precepts, For by them Thou hast revived me. (v 93)

I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Thy Word. (v 107)

Hear my voice according to Thy lovingkindness; Revive me, O Lord, according to Thine ordinances. (v 149)

Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Thy Word. (v 154)

Great are Thy mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to thine ordinances. (v 156)

Consider how I love Thy precepts, Revive me, O Lord, according to Thy lovingkindness. (v 159)

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Lord, thank you for your healing touch. Thank you for your Word and your mercies that are new every morning. Revive your children so they can really live again for you. Amen.

How does God revive you? Feel free to share in the comments below.  I'd love to hear from you!

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her other blog at www.purposefulleadershipblog.com.

The Splendor of the Bible

I love to read.  I love to get engrossed in the lives of the characters in a book and in the scenery presented on a page.  I like reading books containing prose and poetry, suspense, mystery and romance, self-help, comedy and deep thoughts that stir my soul.  Did I mention that I like books that are written to me?  There is no other piece of literature that can provide all of these things except for the Bible.  It is no wonder that God is my favorite Author!

Between the Garden of Eden in Genesis to the Crystal Sea in Revelation, the pages of the Bible, inspired by God Himself provide hope for the hopeless, healing for the broken, and strength for the weak at heart.  We find companionship and love, more than we ever can imagine, as we read about a tenderhearted but jealous God who sent His only Son so that we could spend eternity with Him if we choose.  As a bonus, we can even build a relationship with its Author and His Son as we spend deliberate time in its pages day after day.  And...if we look carefully enough around us, we can also find God's autograph on our lives.  Whoa.

How can I say enough about a "book" that has changed my very life and being?  The Bible is all of these things and more.  Can we really call the bible a book?  The Lover of my soul wrote a letter to me and to you as well ...

• to inspire
• to comfort
• to encourage
• to strengthen
• to challenge, and
• to change

... each of us for the furtherance of His kingdom and so we would all have fuller lives.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12).   "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

And the Word was God.  We have the very mind of the Creator of the universe in our hands when we read our bibles. That, to me, is unimaginable splendor.

Original post: 2/28/2006

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her other blog at www.purposefulleadershipblog.com.

Better Than Chocolate

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.  - Job 23:12 NASB

How hungry are you for God's truth in your life?  What would you give up to spend time in God's presence, reading His words to you?  Do you think Job meant what he said when he was in the depths of despair trying to make sense of his friends nonsensical accusations?  I believe Job meant every word.  Job had such a deep relationship with God that nothing could permanently shake him.

Yes, Job wished he were dead earlier in the story.  But even the most grounded Christians have moments of hopelessness when faced with a pain so piercing.  Remember, Job had lost everything - all of his family except for his wife, his possessions and his health.  Not to mention it, but if I were him, I'd think about ditching those friends who would not shut up!  Most importantly though, Job had not lost His God nor his faith in Him. 

Look at what Job said regarding God's path for him:

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

As He did with Job, God also has a refining purpose for all of us.  The paths He has for us might not always be the comfortable paths we would have chosen, but we must rest assured they are the best for us.

For he performs what is appointed for me, And many such decrees are with Him. (Job 23:14 NASB)

Because God's ways are not our ways, we must rely on the promises of His word so that when storms make their way into our lives we can stand firm.  In troubled times, we have to hold on to one thing in our lives that will never change - the Word of God.  Our feelings about God may change with our circumstances, but those words in black and white stay consistent from day to day, year after year.  Yes, I believe His word truly is better than my necessary food...even better than chocolate.

Priority Check:

1) What are you placing higher on your daily priority list than your time with God?

2) When was the last time you had to rely on God alone for strength?

Note: Originally published March 27, 2007

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her other blog at www.purposefulleadershipblog.com.

Random Thoughts from a Walk in the Park

And God saw all that He had made, and behold it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. - Genesis 1:31

I've heard it said that all things in the physical world represent something spiritual. Everything can be made into a metaphor. I went for a walk earlier today on this beautiful fall day and pondered a lot of things, one of which was what to write for this blog.

The topic I came up with was more of a collection of random thoughts than anything, each one inspired by something I saw and each worthy of its own blog post. God's creation is definitely good for a lot of things! 

1. The caterpillars are out. Soon they will be in their cocoons, transforming into butterflies.

This is the time for many people and organizations for setting goals and preparing for the upcoming year. Nature follows this pattern as well as in the fall the "old" dies to make way for the new. Leaves fall, caterpillars morph, grass goes dormant. 

What one thing, if implemented in your life over the next 6 months would make the most impact on your life? 

2. We see butterflies wander, eagles soar and flowers bloom and we marvel at the beauty of it all.

Do we also marvel at the "suffering" and hard work required over weeks and months that brought the beauty to fruition? The change process is tough and not seen by most. Butterflies morph from crawling caterpillars. Eagles aren't born flying. Flowers culminate from a seed buried in the earth.

Are you going through a transformation and getting tired of the process? Be patient with yourself and endure to the end. Soon you will soar.

3. God must have known how much we would enjoy the splashes of color on once green tree leaves and the richness of a blue sky on a clear day.

If the fall color was ever present, would we still appreciate its splendor? If it was never cloudy would we appreciate the clear blue sky?

Sometimes things are taken away from us so we appreciate what he had. What are you thankful for today? Thank God for that gift. If you are thankful for a person, let them know they are appreciated today. Good things don't last forever here on earth.

I too, can say that what God creates is very good.  What can you add to my list? Add it to the comments below!

Jesus and Friendship

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

 

Today I'm following some of my own coaching advice in that 80% of something is better than 100% of nothing.  I've been wanting to write the perfect post here for quite some time and decided that today I was casting perfection aside here at Bread Crumbs to bring you some unplugged thoughts I've had lately regarding friendships or relationships.

 

I love to help people.  My mom always used to tell me, "Janna, you can't save the world." As a good friend of mine says, I am a "net holder".  I am someone you can count on to hold one corner of your safety net, should you need to "plunge" to safety. I don't run from the tough stuff of emotions and contrary to my impatient nature I am generally long suffering with my friends. 

 

Jesus says that there is no greater love than sacrificing for our friends. He modeled it perfectly, giving up his life on the cross as a sacrifice for the souls of man. Even with my helping nature, I can't remotely compare to Him. In fact, I'm extremely selfish in comparison!

 

Friendship is about sacrifice. Its about the other person, not yourself. To be a good friend according to Jesus' example means we need to give and expect nothing in return, knowing that we will eventually reap for ourselves the good we have sown if we don't lose heart (Gal 6:9), even if we suffer heart ache in the process. Sometimes it's not easy to do, especially if we care deeply about the other person for which we are sacrificing. But Jesus didn't say His way would be easy, did He?

 

How closely do you model Jesus' example of friendship? What stands in your way of considering someone else's needs over your own? What can you do today to reach out to someone in your world? Your small gesture may mean the world to someone else.

 

Note: For more thoughts regarding the impact of small gestures, check out my post "Little Things Make Big Impacts" over at Purposeful Leadership.

 

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her other blog at www.purposefulleadershipblog.com.

Pressing On With the God of Hope

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13 (NASB)

My heart aches for people in need of a break in life.  Today I post with a heavy heart for a friend going through some rough times. While this post is primarily for her, I pray that if you are tired, weary, drained and beat up from life's circumstances that the following might provide even the tiniest bit of encouragement to get through another day.

The song "Press On" by Selah is a beautiful song of God's provision when we lean into Him and His promise of hope through the tough stuff. Because I can't say it any better than they sing, I'll offer this prayer and let the music speak for itself.

Lord, please lift up those who are in the valley with seemingly no strength left to take another step.  Wipe the tears from their eyes, heal their wounds from falling and give them wisdom to make the hard choices they face.  And please, help them to see clearly the prize before their eyes, and give them the strength and endurance to keep pressing on. Amen.

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Love Them Like Jesus

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; - Isaiah 61:1 (NASB)

Last Friday night I led a workshop at my church where I taught our Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) and small group bible study leaders how to create great discussions through the arts of listening and asking questions. I loved the questions the class asked and how eager they were to participate and apply the things they were learning.

However,while I love teaching and coaching on the technical aspects of what it takes to be a good leader, what I love the most is attaching our roles to the Big Picture...God's picture.

Following is a song I played for my group to cement in their minds the notion that all of our work as Christians should serve one purpose, to place someone else's hand in the hand of Jesus. We don't need the answers to all of life's questions because He does.

Now, enjoy the song by Casting Crowns, "Love Them Like Jesus", by clicking the image below. (For email subscribers, be sure to visit the blog to get to the audio/video). 

How can you love someone like Jesus today?

The Moment of Truth

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; - Dt 30:15

 

Picture this scene. After 40 years of wandering in the desert, God finally allows Moses to prepare the Israelites to cross over into the Promised Land. It is here where they must make a decision to move forward or resign to stay in the status quo of the wilderness.

 

We are no different than the Israelites in that we are all on a journey towards significance or happiness whether or not we consciously realize it. The interesting thing to me is the place we find ourselves when we intentionally decide to search for purpose or significance, to make changes in our lives and begin to glimpse our "promised land".

 

To clarify this point, I recently finished teaching a class on Life Purpose called Blueprint for Life. Throughout the class, each participant was tasked to draft their life purpose statement and set measurable and achievable goals for each main area of their life (spiritual, relational, physical, financial, career) to support their life purpose statement. In essence, each member defined their personal "Promised Land" as they currently saw it to be. This was an emotional and live-changing experience for many of the group members.

 

Something happens inside us when we finally uncover the purpose God has for our lives. Suddenly, we realize how much we need to redeem the time ahead of us. Looking at or defining our "promised land" also puts us in an interesting position because we put ourselves between the "here" and the "there". We know where we are and yet we see how things could be.

 

It is at the boundary between current reality and our "promised land" that we find our moment of truth.

 

It is at this boundary where we must ask ourselves:

• What will I do with what I now see?
• What will I do with what could be?
• What keeps me from entering in to the promised land?

Where are you in the journey? No matter where you are in the process of discovering your purpose, you have a choice between life and prosperity, death and adversity. The choice is yours. You CAN have your "promised land" with a little hard work (physically and spiritually) and trust in God.  What are you waiting for?

 

For more resources on life purpose, click here.

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her other blog at www.purposefulleadershipblog.com.

Receiving Love: Obstacle #4-Perspective

Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction. 2 Corinthians 7:4

In case you are just joining in for the first time, I've been going through 2 Corinthians 7:1-4 and discussing how having too much pride, too many priorities and too little patience affect our relationships (for the first post in the series click here).Today I will be discussing the fourth obstacle to receiving God's love through our personal relationships-having too limited a perspective.

While I don't know if most people believe this, difficult times pave the way to more intimacy and deeper connection between two parties. Sure, no one enjoys a disagreement, but if two-way communication is allowed to take place around the disagreement, the relationship can soar to new heights from the mutual understanding.

Unfortunately, most people view conflict as undesirable in a relationship. I've heard many times from people that good relationships "are supposed to be easy". 

Well...yes and no.

Great relationships do have a sense of ease about them. However, great friendships can have points of contention from time to time and still be great. Paul expressed his joy in the troubles he had with the Corinthians. Perhaps he knew that the tough times were only temporary and circumstantial and would bring forth change for the better. Paul never ceased to communicate either, even though it appears in his letter that he was the one who was pleading for acceptance. Paul knew that the Corinthians were worth fighting for.

The key to any relationship's survival is perspective and honest communication. If we keep our minds open to the possibility that our limited perspective is not the only way things can be, and keep the lines of communication open, any relationship with two people willing to reconcile can be salvaged and propelled to greater heights.

Dear Father, you know my heart. Show me your heart in all of my relationships. Thank you for the trials that keep me compassionate towards others. Give us all the hearts and minds to suspend our own judgment and open the lines of communication with those you have put into our lives. Give us your humility and patience and enable us to understand your priorities and perspective. Amen.

Receiving Love: Obstacle #3-Patience

I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. - 2 Cor 7:3 NASB

Relationships take work and time to be all they can be. In my previous few posts we've been making our way through 2 Corinthians 7:1-4 where Paul seems to be pleading his case for why the Christians in Corinth should accept him. We've addressed the affects pride and priorities can have on the amount of blessings we receive from relationships. Today, I will address why patience is a necessity.

We are an impatient people. Our fast-paced, instant-gratification, mobile society has taken a toll on everything in our lives. We quickly change activities and jobs at the drop of the hat. If something takes effort to repair, we just toss it out and buy a new one. Unfortunately, I think this thought process also transfers to our relationships. I don't think God meant this to be so.

All types of relationships require varying degrees of patience from the two parties involved. To illustrate, most of us have heard of the "inner" and "outer" circle. With us in the center, the closer a person is to us within the circle, the more patience is required because more intimacy is involved. For example, a marriage partner is closest to us, our closest friends/family next. Acquaintances belong in the outer part of the circle. Because we don't interact as much with those farthest away from the middle, less patience is required.

In our passage above, Paul considered the recipients of his letter to be somewhat close to him. He obviously felt that God put them in his life for a lifetime because he says that they are "to die together and to live together". He knew them and he'd labored for them. He obviously had patience with them and expected the same in return. Later in the passage, Paul goes on to express the blessings of their connection.

Relationships take work. Some require more than others. Some deserve more than others. How hard are you willing to work for the blessings that come from those God has put into your life?

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her other blog at www.purposefulleadershipblog.com.

Receiving Love: Obstacle #2 -Priorities

Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. - 2 Cor 7:2 NASB

None of us have enough time to do all of the things we want to do. Careers, hobbies, family, friends and ministry all make demands on our time.  So how do we decide what to do with our time?

How we prioritize our time significantly impacts the quality of our lives. Getting out of balance affects our level of joy because we get out of God's will.  When we spend too much time in one area, the other neglected areas scream for our attention. The sad part is, sometimes those "screams" come from the very things or people that could help us. Being out of balance gives us tunnel vision.

Paul apparently felt the need to plead his case for a part in the Corinthian's lives. We see him defending himself, his comrades, and the purpose of his upcoming visit (his third visit to them) in 2 Corinthians 7:1-4. He had earned his place in their hearts through his prior service and he wanted to minister to them more. He wanted to remove all obstacles in the way of them receiving his love.

How do your priorities stack up to what God has called you to do? Does the way you spend your time agree with what you say you value? Are you depriving yourself of a blessing by being focused on the wrong things? Having too many priorities or having unbalanced priorities will wreak havoc on our lives over time. Seek God's counsel on the matter. Ask Him to reveal what is stealing your joy. Then, when the answer comes, take action.

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her other blog at www.purposefulleadershipblog.com.

Receiving Love Obstacle #1-Pride

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. - 2 Corinthians 7:1 NASB

Too often we let ourselves get in the way of what God wants for our lives. In my last post, I mentioned that there were four things that cause relationships to break down: too much pride, too many priorities, too little patience and too limited a perspective.  Actually, these are tactics to avoid in any aspect of our lives!

Today we will talk about pride. Pride is the root of all evil in the world. Pride hinders holiness because it creeps into the fabric of our lives, sometimes without our knowing. It shows up in our priorities, causes impatience and keeps us from seeing the big picture. Unfortunately, pride isn't always self-recognizable. It is often unearthed only after someone (or the Bible) confronts us with the error of our ways.

Essentially, pride is selfish and wants to be right at all costs. If we are prideful we will look for ways to prove we are right, rather than try to understand someone else's point of view. Admittedly, I am guilty of this at times. I will research a point until I've found the answer that proves what I've already decided was true...and then stop looking.  After all, why would I want to dig up evidence that I could be wrong? I quit while I'm "ahead". But am I really ahead and am I really right?

We don't get "ahead" or gain just by being right. A lot of times we lose. Conflict erupts that might have been avoided. Fellowship breaks down and we miss out on the love God intends for us. God wants us to experience His love on earth and in eternity. We can have all of that if we seek Him and His wisdom with an open rather than a closed mind. How is your state of mind today? What would God say about you?

Receiving Love: 4 Obstacles to Acceptance

I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? - 2 Corinthians 12:15 NASB

I can feel for Paul.  Being pushed away and misunderstood by someone you love is a very painful and emotional experience. By the nature of Paul's writing in 2 Corinthians, it would appear that he was not being well received at the time. I think we've all been on the receiving end of rejection and have most likely pushed someone else away at some point in our lives. Why do things have to be this way? What causes this to happen?

I believe that we see a very clear picture of what causes relationships to break down in 2 Corinthians 7:1-4. Here's a quick summary:

1. Pride...too much (v1)

2. Priorities...too many (v2)

3. Patience...too little (v3)

4. Perspective...too limited (v4)

The bottom line here is that we all get in the way of our own happiness and what God has intended for us. When we do, we often start blaming other people for the lack of satisfaction or reciprocity in our relationships, when in fact, we may be the ones causing the problem.

In my next few posts we will dive into 2 Corinthians 7:1-4 and learn about those obstacles getting in the way of how we receive love from others. Stay tuned for my next post on how our own pride gets in the way.

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her other blog at www.purposefulleadershipblog.com.

I Know You Love Me

"...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."-God, Hebrews 13:5b (NIV)

One thing I do understand in the middle of the storms of this life is that God loves me. So far, the year 2009 has been a very tough year for me, in my estimation, perhaps one of my top 3 most difficult. Maybe deep down, that's why my postings have been scarce, even non-existent. Yes, I've been busy with my coaching business, but that probably wasn't the main culprit.

As I've tried to make sense of and cope with a close friend's "disappearance", as well as deal with some other family issues, I'm trying to lean on God so I can learn the lesson He wants me to learn. I'm learning...and I think I'm ready to start writing here at Bread Crumbs again.

My lesson and the lesson for all of us is that Jesus is the only person who will never let us down. He won't deceive us. He won't betray us. He won't desert us. What a relief.

I can know He loves me because He laid down His life for me. (John 15:13). In every season, no matter what I've done or how alone I feel, I can know He loves me.  Maybe that's why the tears come every time I hear the song in the video below from Hillsong, "At the Cross". Take a few minutes to listen, pray and take in God's love for you. Remember, He will always love you, just the way you are.

 

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her other blog at www.purposefulleadershipblog.com.

What Can God Accomplish For You Today?

But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear!  Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. - Exodus 14:13 NASB

What is your greatest fear?  What do you need God to accomplish in your life today?  Life can get us down sometimes, maybe even a lot of the time, but God is ready and available to do some major work in and through our lives if we just turn our lives over to Him.  Moses and the Israelites experienced God's power firsthand in a might way.  

In Exodus 14, the Israelites had just left Egypt after a long period of slavery under Pharaoh's rule.  Even though God led them out of Egypt, they were scared because they had left the only home most of them had ever known and moving on into unfamiliar territory.  Plus, the Egyptians were following close behind.   Enter God to the rescue!  He spoke through Moses as Moses told the people not to fear.  A close examination of Exodus 14:13 can teach us the following about God's provision for us in any circumstance.

1. Do not fear.  God sees everything that is going on in our lives and He knows how to handle every "Egyptian" and every situation that keeps us in bondage to fear. 
2. Stand by.  "Standing by" does not mean meddling in God's business.  God will do all of the dirty work in our lives. All we need to do is come to Him, talk to Him and give to Him all of our requests and all of ourselves.
3. See.  While God is working, we need to be watching.  I wonder how many times I miss God's work in my life because I'm too busy trying to do it for Him!

God can accomplish permanent change in our lives, no matter what needs to be done.  Who do you need to become to do the things God is calling you to do?  Ask God to make you into that person.  What mess do you need cleaned up in your life?  Ask God for help.  He'll make order out of chaos and equip you for His service.  All we have to do is do the little part that we know to do, keep coming to Him for help and He will do the rest.  IfHe can part the seas, what can He do for you? 

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

What Do We Do With Memories?

One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.  Phil 3:13 NKJV

Canadian geese.  "Best Behavior". NSA.  Choking on a pill.  Starbucks Coffee.  The Superbowl. Plant clippings growing in a vase.  Reading from a devotional book.  On their own these are simple things.  But because they are directly connected to a past friendship that I desire with all of my heart to be restored in its entirety, these memories are sometimes bittersweet, bringing both smiles and tears.  In short, I am missing a friend.

Memories are a funny thing.  Whether they are good or bad memories, either type can be both good and bad for us.  Dwelling on memories of past mistakes can keep us in the "I'll never be able to change" mindset or give us the determination to say "I'll never go back there again".  Good memories can give us a smile as we remember some good times spent with a loved one.  However those same memories can also provoke tears and loss of energy due to thinking about what could or should be, making Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." come alive to us.

Do you have a memories you are trying to forget?  Are you holding on to other memories in order to keep hope alive?  Whatever the case, we need to be focusing on the present, reaching forward to the future, and pressing into the one Friend who will never leave us.  I still miss my friend, but Jesus is a better friend, and God says He will create a new thing.  He will create new things in our lives.  He might even create a new thing from the old.  We just need to keep looking upward and reaching forward.

"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." - Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

Is Feeling Worthy Being Prideful?

It is only in the possession of God that I lose myself. It's in the height and breadth and glory of the sunshine that the littleness of the dust particle playing in its beams is seen, and it's by humility that we take our place in God's presence to be nothing but a speck dwelling in the sunlightof His love. - Andrew Murray, "Humility"

Mainstream society tries to make us think that each one of us is and should be the center of our own universe yet the bible compares our best efforts at righteousness to filthy rags (Is 64:6). It is no wonder that so many of us are confused!

 

We are all worthy to be used, but not worthy to be praised. I believe that there are two keys to recognizing our place in this world and stepping up and out to make a difference in it.

1. We are important to God - God loves us and gave His son to die for us, so that He could empower each one of us to be lights in the darkness of this world. He needs us, for the very reason that we are so imperfect, so He can show the world what He can do and so people will know that He is God!

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:4-7 NKJV)

2. We are not important in relation to God - In the whole scheme of things, we are pretty insignificant indeed. However it is the realization of insignificance that gives us true power, and in that lies the paradox. In my opinion, this is the essence of faith, for to have true faith in God, we must not have faith in ourselves.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor 12:9 NKJV)

Feel worthy to be used by God, but not so worthy that God can't use you. We can feel worthy to fulfill God's call on our lives without being prideful as long as we still remember who we really are in light of who God is.  Fulfill your calling with a humble confidence.  Just show up for work. God will get the job done.

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

Love is Kind

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. – Eph 4:32 NKJV

 

“Love you guys!”, I heard someone exclaim as they left our small group meeting several years ago.  I remember thinking at the time how loosely the word “love” is thrown around in our culture today.  Most of the time, it is not referring to the type of agape, unconditional love Jesus modeled to us and expects us to give to our fellow Christians.  I am very careful to not to throw out the words “I love you” to someone unless I’m willing to put actions to my words.

 

Love is patient.  Love is kind.  Loving another Christian is more than just hanging out and sharing good times, although that is part of the fun. How clever it was of God to tell us that love was patient before he got into the rest of His definition for love!  He knew we would need to master patience first and foremost because the rest of love’s requirements imply an investment of time and energy on our part.  

 

So what does it mean to be kind? According to Strong’s Concordance, being kind means to be useful and to furnish what is needed to those around us.  I love involves kindness, true biblical love is definitely difficult in today’s fast-paced society.  All of our lives are complicated and to complicate things even further, all of us are wired with different personalities. 

 

These complications and differences combine to make kindness quite a challenge.  It takes a long time to figure out how to be kind to another person because what they see as kind or useful may not be what we think of at all.  Being kind takes a concentrated effort to see things from another person’s perspective rather than our own…to walk in their shoes. 

 

In a nutshell, to be kind means a sacrifice of self to help someone else.  It is more than just not being cruel.  Kindness is usefulness and providing for someone else’s needs.  What can you do today to be kind to someone in your life?

 

For further thought:

1)      What keeps you from being kind?

2)      What is your deepest need?

 

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

Love Is Patient

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Pe 4:8 NASB

 

I have struggled with patience all of my life.  I’ve learned to be patient in rush hour traffic, long lines at the store, and in waiting for Christmas to come.  However, a harder lesson for me has been in the area of being patient with people.  While I am usually patient over the long haul, the intricacies of day-to-day interactions often trip me up.   Apparently I am not alone in my struggles because the biblical commands for us to love each other so often connect love with patience or longsuffering.

 

Love is patient (1 Cor 13:4 NASB).  The King James Version translates the same verse as  “charity suffereth long”.  Loving others is not always easy.  To fulfill God’s command for loving our fellow Christian brothers and sisters, it takes patient endurance through the tough times in a relationship.  Tough times are inevitable in the good ones.    However, biblical love will get us through the tough stuff. 

 

The bible says to keep fervent in our love for one another above all else, because love covers a multitude of sins—and we are all sinful creatures.  Fervency consists of effort, action and communication, indicating that love is not passive.  Our intimate relationships (e.g. spouse, family, inner circle friendships) require this effort most of all because we have the most investment in them and we see more of their sins.  I wonder how many good relationships end prematurely because of our impatience and the fact that pop psychology today tells us to run for the hills when the going gets tough.

 

Love is a challenge, but God in His own longsuffering with us has given us the perfect model to follow.  Additionally, He has given us the power to overcome the challenges through His word and His spirit.  How has God’s word challenged you today in your relationships?   How will you use His power today to fervently love someone else?

 

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

Love Them Like Jesus

This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. – John 15:12 NASB

 

Love one another.  Jesus is very clear about how we are to treat other Christians.  On the surface, loving those with whom we choose to serve God with seems pretty easy.  However, there is much more to Jesus’ meaning of love.  Jesus tells us to love our fellow Christians in the way that He loved us—and he died for us. 

 

Dying for a child or spouse might not seem like that big of a stretch to some of us, but dying for a Christian is another story.  How much should we give of ourselves to a fellow Christian?  What does this agape love look like in practice?  How do we love others as Jesus did?  All of this provided some great discussion in my Sunday school class this morning.  I’m still thinking about it.

 

The apostle Paul gives us some good examples of what love looks like in life in 1 Corinthians 13.  This is quite a checklist and is more than a pretty poem to be read at weddings.  As you read the following, consider how well you love those around you.

 

Love…

 

• is patient
• is kind
• is not jealous
• does not brag
• is not arrogant
• does not act unbecomingly
• does not seek its own
• is not provoked
• does not take into account a wrong suffered
• does not rejoice in unrighteousness
• rejoices with the truth

 

Love…

 

• bears all things
• believes all things
• hopes all things
• endures all things

 

Love never fails.

 

When I compare how I love others to how God says we should, I realize that I fail miserably much of the time because my selfishness gets in the way.  Plain and simple, love is hard. Fortunately, love never fails either.  God’s love for us as well as His Holy Spirit inside of us enables us to love others.   Our love for others can eventually right any wrong.  Commit to love better today.  Ask God to empower you.  God never fails.

 

For further thought:

 

1)      How well do you love the fellow believers God has placed in your life? 

2)      From the “checklist” in 1 Corinthians 13, what is your biggest challenge?

3)      What baby step will you take today to love others as Jesus commands?

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

New Beginnings for a New Year

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. – Gen 1:1-2

 

There is just something about starting a new year that provides fresh motivation.  Whether it is the symbolism of leaving the past behind or the anticipation of what the future year holds, nonetheless, I look forward to hitting the ground running toward new and exciting things.

 

As God started with a clean slate of creation, similarly, we have an opportunity to do the same on January 1 of each year.  Just as most businesses close out their books at the year-end, we too can close the books on the past year of our lives.   We all have the opportunity to start with a clean slate or blank canvas.

 

Each year for me, the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a time of reflection and refocus.  I revisit my successes and failures and resolved to change some things for the coming year.   This week, I updated both personal and professional goals and am ready to start painting on the blank canvas of 2009. 

 

I like fresh starts and second chances.  I like creating something out of nothing and even fashioning a new thing from the broken pieces of an old thing.  The start of a new year gives all of us a chance to begin in with the things in our lives we can control.  

 

What are your goals for 2009?  Do you have a particular theme or emphasis?  How will you build on your past successes?  What will you do to remove the obstacles in your path?  Don’t forget to involve God in your plans.  Not only can he help set the direction for your life, He will be by your side as you progress toward those plans you design with Him.  2009 is here.  Let’s get started, shall we?

 

Dear Heavenly Father, please reveal to me the path you wish for me to take as I move forward one step at a time.  Show me Your way.  I hold up 2009 to you with anticipation of new and exciting things.  Your power to create and restore is amazing to me and I’m thankful in advance for what you will accomplish.  Make me into the servant for You that You desire and deserve.  Amen.

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

 

Heaven - The Ultimate Vision

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem,coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.  Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. (Rev 21:10-11 NASB)

 

New Year's Resolutions are just around the corner.  Goal setting mode is upon us. When it comes to setting goals, it is important to envision the end result we had in mind so that when we lose momentum half way to the finish line, we will be motivated to keep going.

 

As Christians, we work hard to draw closer to God so we can know what He desires from us.  When we fully surrender to God’s will and realize our life’s purpose, we strive to achieve it at all costs.  As we work, we may remind ourselves from time to time of the earthly vision we had in mind, but how often do we think of our ultimate prize, heaven?

 

Perhaps we don't give enough thought to it. Keeping our eyes on the prize of heaven can keep us going through the tough times.  Today I'm going to share a Top Ten list from my pastor's sermon on 11/23.  From Pastor Jason St. John, here's the list.

 

Top 10 Reasons Heaven Will Be Awesome

 

10.       A new body.  (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

9.         Awesome food.  (Mt 8:11, Re 19:9)

8.        Meeting the great characters of history.

7.        The reunions.  (1 The 4:13, 16-17)

6.         No more sin.  (Re 21:27)

5.        The never-ending adventure.

4.         New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem.  (Rev 21:1-5, 10-11)

3.        The "No Mores". (Re 7:16-17, Is 65:17-18)

2.        Awesome Worship. (Re 5:11-14, Re 7:9-10)

1.        Seeing God.  (1 Jo 3:2, John 14:3)

 

Take some time today and look these verses up in your bible.   We all have something to look forward to as a result of our endurance here on earth.  Heaven will be awesome.  God promises it will be so.

 

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

Merry Christmas 2008!

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  For a special holiday wish for all of you who have let me be a small part of your lives,
click here.

Blessings to you and yours,

Janna

God With Us

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be his people, and God Himself will be among them, - Revelation 21:3

 

Christians around the globe will be celebrating the first advent of Jesus Christ tomorrow on Christmas day.  As foretold by the prophets (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, 8:10) over 2000 years ago, the Almighty God, Creator of the universe & King of Kings came to earth as a little baby…just to be with us.  Let that sink in for a moment.  God came to be with us.  This first time He came without fanfare, yet His birth was to pave the way for something greater than we could ever imagine.

 

I wonder what would have happened had Jesus came to earth the first time as a Mighty Conqueror rather than a lowly babe.  His name would have still been Emmanuel, meaning “God with us”.  However, I suppose we would not have gotten to see the richness of God’s character that way, because we couldn’t have fathomed God as one of us.  Seeing God as a man, growing from infant to teenager to manhood, in the most humble of ways, gives us a visual picture that we might not have seen otherwise.  I’m thankful that God chose to come to earth in the way that He did.

 

Jesus will return someday the way the Jews expected Him to come the first time—as a mighty King and conqueror.  He will come as John describes in the book of Revelation.  He will dwell with us someday in a different way than in the past.  The lowly manger will be replaced by a king’s throne, the crown of thorns by all of God’s glory.  The power of His resurrection will be made known fully as He makes all things new from the seat of His throne (Rev 21:5).  The bible says

 

and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away,”  (Rev 21:4 NASB)

 

We can doubly celebrate this Christmas by celebrating His birth and His soon again coming.  How much richer will your Christmas be if you celebrate Christmas this way?

 

Merry Christmas to you and yours.  May you always remember that God is with us.

Grown Up Christmas List

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; – Isaiah 61:1 NASB

 

As I go about the business of my daily routine and pre-Christmas rituals, I often listen to Christmas music.  One of my favorite Christmas songs, even though it puts me in a melancholy mood when I hear it is the song “Grown-up Christmas List”, written by David Foster & Linda Thompson Jenner.  As I hear Amy Grant sing the words, my own thoughts echo the chorus as I think “This too, is all I really want for Christmas.”

 

Here’s the “grown-up” Christmas list as written for the chorus:

 

No more lives torn apart

That wars would never start

And time would heal all hearts.

 

Everyone would have a friend

And right would always win

And love would never end.

 

Some people may call me an idealist.   I was told by my personal coach just this past summer that I wanted to have it all.   I know I do and I know that I can’t have it all.  It frustrates me that I can’t, but yet I press on.  However, someday we will have it all.  Jesus came to earth so that we could.  Because He came to earth the first time, we have an opportunity for salvation, an eternal existence in heaven and access to the comfort on earth that only He can provide.  Because He will come to earth a second time, we will see an end to all wars and Good triumph over Evil for the final time. 

 

Maybe we can’t have it all here on earth now, but we will someday.  God’s Word says it is so.  In the meantime, let’s do the best we can appreciate what we do have in this imperfect world.

Insincere Prayers

And they do not cry to me from their heart when they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, they turn away from Me. – Hosea 7:14 NASB

 

When someone asks you for help, do you sometimes question their motives because maybe their words don’t match the body language conveyed or what you know about the person?  Here in Hosea, God is using the same discernment, with the advantage of being an omnipresent mind reader!

 

In Hosea’s time, the Israelites were anything but sincerely seeking God’s will for their lives.  They wanted God’s help when they needed Him, yet wanted to do their own thing the rest of the time.  They wanted to have their cake and eat it too.    They must have thought they could fool God into helping them in spite of their disobedience.

 

Sometimes we are no different.  We wail on our beds for God to change our worlds and provide for our needs.  In reality we want comfort for the symptoms of our “disease”, not the means to a cure for that “disease”.  We too, want help to survive while continuing on in our own foolish ways.   Unfortunately, we can’t fool God any more than the Israelites could.

 

God wants us to come to Him with our needs, but He wants us to come to Him with a sincere desire to change our ways and get to know Him better.  He wants to help cure us, changing our character, so that the symptoms of our “disease” no longer appear.  When we come to Him with a pure heart, He will also take care of our symptoms, providing comfort and provision as we work through our problems. 

 

How is the condition of your heart?  When you pray, are you asking for God to help you change or for Him just to help you?  Keep asking.  Keep praying.  Most importantly, sincerely turn to Him, putting aside your own agenda and asking God to accomplish His will in your life.  He will gladly oblige.

 

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Janna Rust is a Professional Coach and Speaker dedicated to encouraging others towards lives God intends for them.  For more information, visit her at www.purposefulpartnerships.com.

A Strange Way to Save the World?

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways, My ways,” declares the LORD. – Isaiah 55:8

 

This morning the children of our church acted out a nativity scene as part of their Christmas play.  As the little actor playing Joseph stood looking at the baby Jesus in a manger, he sang the following words from the 4Him song, Strange Way to Save the World:

 

“Now I’m not one to second guess what angels have to say

But this is such a strange way … to save the world.”

 

I wonder if the real Mary and Joseph had similar thoughts as they looked down at their newborn baby more than 2000 years ago.  When I think of all the ways that God, the Creator of the universe could have chosen to redeem mankind, my college-educated brain is in awe of the method God chose to redeem mankind from the consequences of sin.  If I had been given the responsibility of solving the problem, I would have brought Jesus to earth as an adult man, foregoing childhood and puberty!  

 

How many times in our own lives do we question God’s methods for molding the clay of our character into the shape He needs for His use?  Yet, when we question God, could we possibly come up with better solutions than His?   Obviously, our intellect and perspective on the world is no match for the likes of God.   As the bible says, our thoughts are not our thoughts and our ways are not His ways.   We can trust God’s plan for our lives.

 

I’m glad that God’s ways and thoughts are different than mine.  Most of all, I’m glad He cares enough about me to make sure that I become exactly who He needs me to be to do the work He has prepared for me to do.   From my perspective, using someone like me to change my world is also a little strange.  I’m sure glad God is doing all the planning.

 

For further thought:

 

1)      What trial are you currently going through?

2)      What is God trying to teach you through this trial?

3)      How can God use this situation for His glory, both in the present and future?