I have written this beginning no less than 7 times.

The words have weighed on my heart and rattled around in my brain, but for some reason, they just don’t want to sit on this screen and communicate my heart.

You see, I’m a perfectionist. At least, that’s what I always thought.

‘Perfectionism’ has been my excuse. It became my scapegoat long ago, giving me a defense, a pardon, for my scrutiny and toiling, my procrastination and avoidance. When I lacked inspiration and just. couldn’t. get. it. right, perfectionism wore the blame.

…if I couldn’t do it well, I didn’t do it at all.

After all, shouldn’t a perfectionist deliver stunning results? Have something to show for all of that time spent planning, preparing, practicing, producing? In that wastebasket full of wadded up efforts, shouldn’t there be at least one bestseller, a master-piece of me?

It’s not that I’ve wanted to be perfect — I’ve always known that what I do … who I am … is far from perfect. It hasn’t even been about being the best.

I think what I have finally come to realize, is that perfectionism, at least for me, is far more about significance and meaning. I want to do something that matters.

Something that matters!

I want my life, my efforts, all of me to count for something.

Do you ever feel that way?

Friend, you do matter. In fact, you matter far more than you think. Not only are you a daughter of the King, God has gifted you and called you. He has put desires and dreams in your heart. For most of us, we have let distractions, busyness, good intentions, and worries mute the cry of our hearts and bury those God-given dreams. But they are there. Find them. Ask Him to open your eyes and soften your heart, that you might know His calling for you.

And as those dreams come alive again, trust Him. Follow Him. Obey His calling.

Maybe it’s true…

…maybe perfectionism is part of my nature, maybe it’s part of yours.

But either way, that label, that excuse, can no longer bear the blame. For it’s not perfectionism that stops us, that holds us back. It’s fear. Far too often, fear is the dictator of our lives.

And that’s not how we were called to live. He came,“to enable us to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days!” (Luke 1:74)

“Through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set [us] free! … [We] did not receive a spirit that makes [us] slave[s] to fear!” — Romans 8:2, 15

May we walk in that freedom, abiding in Christ Jesus’, perfect Love who drives out all fear! (1 John 4:18)

Have you ever let fear hold you back from pursuing God’s call on your life?

Photo Credit:  Dawn Camp

As you look back on the last year and look forward to the new year…

…are you truly living out the calling that God has given you?

If not, what or who is hindering you from fulfilling the calling that God has given you?

Hmmm…think about it.

What is that thing that God keeps whispering in your ear {or in my case, screaming out because of my poor listening skills} to do that you just haven’t done yet?

We all have various “reasons” or “excuses” for not stepping out to follow Him in our calling. I’d like to talk about a few today:

1.  “I am not adequate or prepared for this. It is way too big for me.”  — This is a common excuse, as we humanly feel incapable of doing that which God has called us to do. The Lord in his graciousness and power responds, “Nothing is too difficult for me. I want to work through you. Just say ‘Yes, Lord!’ and I will do the rest, for my strength is made perfect in your weakness.” (Lk. 1:37; Eph. 3: 20; 2 Cor. 12:9)

Remember: God usually calls us to things that are much bigger than us so that we are completely dependent on Him. We can’t do it without Him!

2.  “I don’t have the time or the energy.”   – We are tired. We are busy. Life is hard and already sometimes overwhelming. How could we possibly add something additional to our plate? Our God gently says, “How about allowing My energy to flow through you? Seek me first, My child, and all these things will be added to you. Trust me with your time.” (Col. 1: 29; Matt. 6:34; Prov. 3:5)

Remember: God provides us with what we need to accomplish His purposes. That includes supernatural energy and time management! We just have to be willing to give our schedules and our physical capabilities to Him.

3.  “What will others say? What if they think I’m not talented enough?”   –  We worry about what our family and friends will say if we tell them what God has called us to do. We fear that others will doubt our calling and our gifts. Those worries and fears soon begin to speak louder than God’s call. We become paralyzed and ineffective. The Lord responds, “Don’t be like the Pharisees who were more interested in the praise from men than praise from me. You are working for me, not for men!” (Jn. 12:43; Col. 3:23)

Remember:  He will equip you according to your calling. He is enough.

4.  “What if I fail miserably?”  —  Some of us quit before we even get started just because we are afraid that we might disappoint God, our self, or others. So we just don’t do it. We decide to remain where we are, in our comfort zone… in our disobedience. The Lord says, “Keep your eyes on me. If you fall, I will pick you up. I will be with you. I will give you the strength to persevere.” (Heb. 12:2; Psalm 37:23-24)

Remember:  Believe you can and you’re halfway there!

5.  “The path is uncertain. I am scared.”  —  Wouldn’t it be nice if God granted us a GPS for our lives? Turn left here. Drive 20 miles west and turn right. Take the next exit. But instead He calls us to follow Him. Our sweet Savior reminds us, “Be strong and courageous. I will be with you wherever you go! I will show you the way. Trust me. I have amazing things planned for you!” (Joshua 1:9, 3:5; Exodus 15:13)

Remember:  Abraham WENT, not knowing where he was going. He was remembered as a man of faith, not a man with a plan.

God is so good to answer us when we cry out to him AND even. when. we. make. excuses!

He loves us so much…

…He never wants us to stay in that shadow of fear.

So, listen to God. What is He telling you to do?  Now, go and do it! Make 2012 the year you follow Him with all you’ve got… And no excuses!

Photo Credit: chrislee!

We shuffled down the stairs, still wiping the sleep from our eyes, only to fall into the warmth of the couch, snuggled under fleece blankets and tucking our toes in tight.

Darkness still lingered in an early morning sky, and even with the heat switched on, the cold surrounded and invaded and pushed us back to the warmth of pillows and bodies and snuggling as a family.

It didn’t take long to realize that something wasn’t quite right. Vents opened for heat released only cool air, and the house remained brisk. Any trace of concern was brushed away with assumptions: a year old furnace that couldn’t break or a pilot light that surely had gone out. Certainly it was nothing worse than that.

But after an hour of troubleshooting and reading the instruction manual again and again, I held the phone close to my ear, fingers numb and worry creasing my forehead.

“… out of warranty …”

“… $85 just to take a look …”

Suddenly, an inconvenience to some, was a kick down a mountain of hope for me, and I landed in the deep, miry well of discouragement.

“Lord! We have worked so hard, fought so faithfully, trusted You so intently – and now – this?

How, Lord?

How will we ever make it?

I just. don’t. understand.”

After walking through extended unemployment, the loss of all of our savings, sacrificing and giving and selling most of what we could,

after two years of near financial ruin, nearly losing our home, menial jobs, and great uncertainty,

one thing became apparent: God is faithful.

Against all odds, in spite of dire circumstances:
He provided. He sustained. He heard.

But in that moment, worried over eighty-five dollars,
I forgot.

I took my eyes off of my faithful God and fixed my gaze on the circumstance in front of me.

But once again, He proved that
He provides. He sustains. He hears!

No sooner had my heart burst with fear, and discouragement escaped my lips, did He answer.

“I got it!” my dad’s voice exclaimed from the crawlspace. “I don’t know what I did differently, but it’s on!”

With a little jiggle here, a hard knock there, and many prayers the whole way through, I knew Who got our furnace working again.

Friend, sometimes in the struggles of life, we forget Who holds all of the pieces together –

We forget Who holds us.

And maybe, for you, today is one of those days when it seems easier to forget than it is to remember, so may I remind you?

From one struggler to another, may I just whisper His word to your anxious heart?

“Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.“

“Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?“

“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” (Luke 12: 22-31 MSG)

O Friend, might we walk through these struggles together, reminding one another to steep ourselves in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions!

“Your Father knows that you need [these things]. Seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid…your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom!” (Luke 12:30-32 NIV)

Let’s recount His faithfulness today, for He. is. faithful!

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help come from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth!”
(Psalm 121:1-2 NIV84)