6 Ways to Make a Godly Impact in 2014

Posted on January 1, 2014 by thelookingglassbykathy

new-years-resolutionsA New Year is always a good time to look back with thankfulness to God for His faithfulness. It’s also a time to look ahead with great anticipation as to how you can make an impact in the world around you for Christ. More than ever, 2014 can be your most impactful year yet!! The 6 ways listed below will be a challenge for me so pray for me and I will pray for you.

1. Act on impulse—When God brings something or someone to mind that He wants you follow-through on, don’t delay! Go ahead and make that call. Send that email or text. Stop by and visit. Stop procrastinating. Take care of it once and for all. Be obedient at the first whisper… You’d be surprised what an impact you could make!
2. Clear out the clutter—How can you spread your wings when your elbows hit the clutter every time you try? Clutter never allows you to fully have the impact for Christ you could have. It bogs you down. It keeps your feet muddied. Get rid of it and see what impact you could have!
3. Make that appointment with your doctor—You know, the ones you’ve been putting off last year? How can you make your best impact with looming unchecked health issues? Go ahead and make that appointment and watch your impact for Christ go from 1 to 10!!
4. Get your finances in order—Messed up financial health can strangle our creativity. We can’t even think straight because our money woes are always front and center. Christ and His purposes for our life need to take precedence but it can’t if we’re always tied up by our money troubles. Figure out how to get what you have in working order and watch God use you to impact your world for Him!
5. Get reacquainted with your family and friends—Life happens very quickly, doesn’t it? So much so that those closest to us often find themselves at the tail end of the receiving line. Make and take time to reconnect this year. Get in touch with a long-lost relative or friend. Make that long overdue apology if need be! Don’t let another year go by without making an impactful presence in the lives of those you love.
6. Change your plan—If you can never seem to follow through with the plans/goals/resolutions you’ve made, then change the way you’ve approached it. Seek wisdom from others who are successful at hearing the voice of God and mapping out goals. Renewing your mind is transformative (Romans 12:1-2) and allows you make the impact you desire.

Dear one, as you move through the New Year, I pray that you will allow God to help you lay aside the hindrances that so easily beset you (Hebrews 12:1) and run this race in such a way that you make an impact for Christ this year. Go ahead and get started!!

First Look:
+What additional scripture(s) can you claim this year that will solidify your impact in this world for Christ in 2014?

Through The Looking Glass:
+Talk to God today about the impact He wants you to have for Him and His Kingdom.
+Write down what He’s telling you or ask a Christ Follower to help you discern what God may be saying to you.
+Get started on making an impact!

Posted in Beginnings, Issues of the Heart, Lessons from Scripture, Spiritual truths | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Christmas Joy–Or Is It?

Posted on December 14, 2013 by thelookingglassbykathy
Photo Credit: julieamarxhausen.wordpress.com

Photo Credit: julieamarxhausen.wordpress.com

Joy to the world!  The Christmas season has come.  If you are anything like me, this may be a season in which you may not feel like jumping for joy.  Your joyless feet may be firmly planted on the ground.  Could it be that you are inclined to remember some questionable Christmases from your past, loved ones who are gone, and finances that don’t quite add up to the hype of holiday gift-buying expectations?   At times I may want to do more during this season than I am financially able.  This can cause bitterness to enter my heart and crowd out the joy I so want to feel.  Did you know that bitterness and rebellion may be intertwined in Christmas more than you may know?   Let me share a little story with you:
It  started like any other morning in my classroom of zealous 5 and 6 year-olds.  I was so looking forward to introducing my students to one of my favorite people in the Bible with the purpose of ushering the reason for Christmas to them.  The person was Mary, the loving mother of the Savior of the World, Jesus the Christ.
My introduction to this courageous and amazing woman, who found favor with God, was to share with my students that many young women of that time in history were named “Mary”.  The point that I was intent on making revolved around the fact that although the name was extremely popular, God looked beyond the ordinary name and found the heart of an extraordinary young woman.  She was chosen to be the enduring and long suffering mother of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
It was then that my co-teacher interrupted my Bible lesson to share an odd story. “I know of a young girl whose was named Mary.  Her father legally changed her name because he found out that the name, Mary, has a bad meaning!”  I was stunned.  I did not recall the meaning of the name Mary. “What does the name mean?”, I asked. “I am not really sure”,  she said, “but he said the name means something pretty awful!”  The co-teacher continued, “The father changed his daughter’s name from Mary to Joy!” Ten anxious faces were looking at me and there I stood at a loss for words! I was beginning to think that the biblical point in which I was trying to convey was lost with this newly-contributed information. I would research the meaning of the name later, but in the meantime it was more important that the children receive Mary as the holy and awesome woman that she is known to be.
Later that day, subsequently after a bit of research, I found out that the name Mary means “rebellion” and “bitterness”.  Why would God choose a mother whose name has a negative connotation for His Son?  Pondering this question for days, I finally believe that God has spoken to my heart on this matter.
No matter what the meaning of your name is, God makes the final choice of who is usable for His great purpose.  A negative meaning of a name or past mistakes does not blind the eyes of God.  Despite the meaning of her name, Mary had a blessing inside of her that would one day be birthed…the amazing blessing was the Lord Jesus Christ.  If you are a woman of God,  you too have a blessing inside of you.  God is waiting for you to give birth to it.  Just like Mary, you could change the world forever with what God has placed inside of you!  Think about it!!  As you allow God’s favor to permeate your life, you may see God change your name  from bitterness to joy!  Mary -oops – Merry Christmas and Joy to the World!!
Cindy Wiliamson Woolard is a wife, mother and teacher to the sweetest bunch of 5 & 6 year olds.  Her joyous heart is infectious to all who know her.
+First Look: Read Luke 1:28-30
+Through The Looking Glass: Put yourself in Mary’s shoes. How would you have felt when God called you to conceive the Messiah?  What has God placed in you that He is waiting to birth?
Posted in Christmas, Issues of the Heart | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

{From the archives}: What Gift Do You Have to Offer?

Posted on December 7, 2013 by thelookingglassbykathy

As the old classic song says, “Christmas cards have all been sent, the Christmas rush is through but there’s one thing I wish for you…”  There’s another old classic Christmas song that has brand new meaning to me this year:

Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new-born King to see,
Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too,
Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our King
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you!
Pa rum pum pum
On my drum.

Mary nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him
Pa rum pum pum
I played my best for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

This song, penned in 1958, is also known as the “Carol of the Drum”.  Unlike the gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh the Wise Men brought to Jesus, the little drummer boy was too poor to afford a gift for the baby Jesus.  He saw himself in Jesus as he was a poor boy, too!!  But he knew that this poor boy was a King. The Messiah.  The Christ Child.  With that realization came the only response he could give.  Worship.  He wanted to worship Jesus by offering Him a gift.  But, what could he give? He offers what he has in hands.  A song of worship played with his drumsticks.

handsholdingpresentSmall2

What a simplistic but powerful song of worship.  It’s a visual that even the simplest mind can comprehend.  Each one of us has a personal way to worship God by offering him what we have in our hands.  No matter how small, it pleases the heart of God.  Do you believe that?  It’s a gift that’s received with a smile.  Dear one, what do you have in your hands?  Think about it.  Is it a ball, a pen, money, a song sheet, an instrument, a steering wheel, a smartphone, a key, sports equipment, a sewing needle, a stethoscope, a cooking utensil, knitting needles, a gardener’s tool, a paintbrush, or a cup of coffee?  Whatever it is, your hands hold the perfect gift to offer the King.  Offer it to Him at this moment as a spiritual act of worship.  (refer to Romans 12:1)

As the little drummer boy’s hands tapped his tattered drum, Mary nodded in response to the gift given to Jesus, her baby boy.  The baby Jesus smiled.  With this, there is one wish I have for you today.  Merry Christmas!

Jesus, Simply Jesus!

First Look:

+ Read the Gospel’s accounts of Jesus’ Holy Birth.  Is God speaking to you in a special way? What do you see that you’ve never seen before?

+Read Romans 12:1.  Hold out your hands.  Offer them to God today.

Through The Looking Glass:

+What gift do you have to offer The LORD Jesus Christ?

+Prayerfully offer it to him today.

Posted in Christmas, Hope, Issues of the Heart | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Follow The Leader

Posted on September 30, 2013 by thelookingglassbykathy

As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother.  They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fisherman.  “Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people!”  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 

Mark 1:16-18, HCSB

While reading this verse many times last week, I always stopped to ponder it.  I couldn’t help myself.  “Okay,” I’d say to myself.  Jesus called, they immediately dropped their nets and followed Him. They did what??  Dropped their nets and followed Him?  Immediately?  Wow!

Photo credit: fjm.org

Photo credit: fjm.org

What a picture of surrender.  True surrender.  Hearing Jesus call you and immediately giving up your livelihood (possibly all you’ve ever done in your life) to follow Him?  There is no indication (in this passage) that they knew Jesus or even who He was.  They were engaged in their daily activity.  Earning a living and Jesus calls and they walked away from it all to train under Jesus to ‘fish for people’.  What did that mean?  Jesus was calling them to cut ties with what they knew and who they knew to be a part of something new.  To trust Him and His message.  The message of Good News.

Think about it, Jesus beckons us everyday to lay aside the old way of thinking.  To lay aside things that strap us down and sap our strength, things that have our undivided attention to be an active participant in what He’s doing.  The fishermen immediately dropped their nets and follow Him.  He didn’t have to convince them or beg them to get in the game.  He didn’t ask for a one hour a week commitment. He called them to a total commitment.  He would teach them all they needed to know. They were called to a new way of life.  A new focus. He would teach them to cast the net wide and bring in the lost, the desperate, the hopeless and the helpless.  They gave their lives to this call.

He’s calling.  Will you lay down what’s in your hand that keeps you from hearing His voice and immediately answering the call to follow Him?  Lay it down and Follow the Leader.  Follow Jesus.

First Look:

+Read Mark 1.

+Note the responses to Jesus’ call to “become fishers of men”.

Through The Looking Glass:

Reflect: What is in your hands that keep you from totally surrendering to Jesus call to follow Him wholeheartedly?  What are your fears?  Your doubts?  Are you ready to surrender?  Tell Him with open hands of your desire to fully enter in to what He’s called you to do.

Posted in Issues of the Heart, Lessons from Scripture, Spiritual truths | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fresh Fruit–The Healthy Choice

Posted on September 6, 2013 by thelookingglassbykathy

This summer I was honored to lead a Bible study for a group of women I affectionately call ‘The Girlfriends’.  The Girlfriends (of which I am one) have been friends and Bible study partners for many years.  Some of us have been together since our kids where in middle school.  Most of us are mother-in-laws (or soon to be) and/or grandmothers now.  Almost all of us are wearing reading glasses now. As you can imagine we’ve been through lots of life together. We’ve supported each other in every way you could imagine. We challenge and encourage each other in the Spirit. It’s a beautiful thing.

We studied The Holy Spirit this summer and God met us there as we inhaled His Word and His Truth. He met us in the very place we stood, knelt, laid, or were stuck. We were deeply ministered to by The Holy Spirit individually and collectively. Our teacher, The Holy Spirit, taught us why we needed Him and how to rediscover His power and presence. We wanted to see His power and experience His presence in our lives. We needed to listen to His voice and follow His leading in whatever He may call us to do.

Being filled with the Spirit excited some lively conversation and transformed each one of us during those seven weeks of study. As we studied this very important aspect of the Spirit’s ministry, I was reminded of a recent trip my husband and I took to California. While we were driving, I noticed there were beautiful fruit trees everywhere. Lemon and orange trees to be exact.

Lemon Tree

Orange Tree

Orange Tree

The longer we drove, the more I was captivated with these fresh fruit trees growing along a busy downtown street! I asked my husband to stop the car so that I could get out and touch it and (dare I say) eat it. The colors were so spectacular. Vibrant!! I was picturing myself squeezing fresh orange juice and lemonade from the fresh fruit or even eating an orange right there on the spot! As tempting as it was, I resisted, from fear of being arrested.

Spiritually speaking though, we as Christ-Followers are to bear fruit and to be filled with the fruit of The Holy Spirit. It’s not an option. If we allow the Spirit to do His work in us we will attract others to the fresh fruit we display. The fruit boasts of Christ in us! Being filled with and displaying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives distinguishes a Christ-Follower from a non-believer. What is this fruit we are called to be filled with? How do get filled? How should it present itself in our lives? Hear the Word of God from Galatians 5:22-25: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Let your roots go deep into Him for nourishment. Allow Him to produce fresh fruit in you. Fresh fruit is the healthy choice. Eat up because you are what you eat!!

First Look:

Take a look at Galatians 5:22-23.

Through The Looking Glass:

Which fruit of the Spirit would others say you have the most trouble displaying in your life? Which fruit would others say shine the most? Do you agree or disagree? Why or Why not?

Posted in Spiritual truths | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment