Re-Evaluating my Goal

Re-evaluating My Goal
by Karen Porter

A friend spoke at a recent conference. Her presentation was deep, thoughtful, and resonated in the hearts of the women in the giant auditorium. I had spoken earlier that morning. My presentation was light; the crowd laughed and applauded and enjoyed the fun.

As I listened to my friend share the deep truths of discipleship and love in the story of Mary and Martha, I felt a twinge of doubt and a touch of shame. I had made them laugh, but she had made them think and think deeply.

Later, I expressed my ache to be more like her. She said, “God built us to be different, so be yourself, just don’t hide behind the laughter.”

Since that day, I’ve been working through the question: what is my goal as a speaker and author. Is it entertainment? Is it imparting knowledge? Is it building name recognition? Is it selling more books or getting more speaking engagements? What is the motivation to spend hours on a plane, sleep in strange hotels, and eat on the run?

The answer is: I’ve been changed by the power of Jesus and I want to see others changed. So I’ve re-set my goal as transformation. I want to see people changed in a deep and lasting way. Real change that doesn’t wear off after the excitement of a conference or retreat dims.

Transformed People Transform People

Paul and Silas were in the prison at midnight (Acts 16). The charges were a farce. It wasn’t fair they in the innermost dungeon in chains.

The dungeon was a whining place—the perfect situation for crying “Why me?” But not for Paul and Silas; they prayed and praised God. The language indicates they sang the Pascal Psalms (Ps 113-118, 136)—the Psalms of highest praise typically sung at Passover. These songs are the Great Hallal—the hymns of greatest joy!

Let’s stop right there. Roll that last thought in your mind again: they are in the worst kind of place yet they sang the songs of great joy.

How did Paul and Silas come to that point? Why did thanksgiving, praise, worship, and joy come out in the worst situation? Because they had been transformed. Paul was a murderous villain until transformation on the road to Damascus. Silas followed Jesus out of an obscure life to play a prominent role in the early church. They were changed and their joyous response to a terrible situation proved it.

Then the most amazing thing happened: the prisoners and the jailor listened. The language indicates they were mesmerized (as in sitting on the edge of your seat). Everyone was transformed because two guys had been transformed.

I’ve discovered that God is not the God of tweaks; He is the God of transformation.

He changes people. My transformation was radical and thorough. What about yours? If you live and speak and write from your transformation, others will be changed too.

Transformation is our message. It may be transformation of hearts, marriages, leaders, physical health, children’s lives, or spiritual disciplines but transformation is our goal. I’ll still use humor and fun because that’s the way God built me. I have asked God to help me not care if they remember my name but to care if they are changed by the message.

I’ve reevaluated and focused on transformation as my goal, I hope you will too.
I’d love to hear about your transformation. Email me at kaeporter@gmail.com

Magazine Clips

See my magazine clips
http://www.box.net/shared/9uf40xh1e6

What is the Kingdom of God like?

Mark chapter 9.

Couldn't figure what it had for me to learn.
I've been going through the Gospel of Mark one verse at a time for months. I'm learning more than I ever knew before about Jesus. Some days I spend a time on just a few words. Other days I step back and look at the big picture.

Today I read the verses about the transfiguration of Jesus on the mount. He said just before this that some people there would see the Kingdom of God. Then he took Peter, James, and John up into a mountain to give them (and us) a glimpse. So what can we learn about the Kingdom of God --- that place or time when we will be with Jesus.

They went into a high mountain. The Kingdom is part of the world yet separated from it. On a mountain, you see the world from a whole new perspective. When we get into the Kingdom, we will not see the world from the same eyes.

Jesus was changed before them. We will be changed too. Totally different than we are today. There are some things about me I'll be glad to be rid of.

Jesus clothes were whiter than anyone on earth could possibly bleach them. Things will not look the same when we get into the kingdom. The things we know will be better. Whites will be whiter. Fresh will be fresher. Sweet will be sweeter. Blues will be bluer and reds will be redder. Clear will be clearer. The best things on earth will be better. It seems we will remember the things of earth, but we will say, "Oh! That's the way it was supposed to be."
We'll declare, "Oh, that's the way strawberries were supposed to taste." and on and on.

The three disciples recognized Elijah and Moses. How? There were no photographs, no portraits, not even any discriptions in the Scripture. They would have looked like any other Jewish man. Yet they knew them. Revelation says, "We shall know as we are known."

God spoke from heaven, "This is my son." Everything in the Kingdom will point to Jesus. The focus will be on HIm. He is the joy of the kingdom.

The Kingdom is our destination. What do you think?

OPEN DOORS - BIG OBSTACLES

Yesterday I entered the church sanctuary with a heavy heart about a big decision.

My pastor, Steve Riggle, read from Numbers 13-14 about Israel cowering at the edge of the Promised Land saying, "there are giants." Then he read from I Cor 16:9 "For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."

I felt his message was for me alone in the crowd of thousands. Thought you might like to see some of my sermon notes.

Both Paul and Israel came to an open door. Isreal trembled in fear of the giants on the other side. Paul saw the opportunity for ministry even though there were giant obstacles.

If something is from God, will it be easy, smooth, and worry-free? Not necessarily. There are many adversaries.

1. What (or who) opposes us? We have an enemy who wants to stop the kingdom work

2. What divides us? Do our personal agendas keep us from seeing God?

3. What distracts us? Are we so busy we can't focus?

4. What keeps us from the vision? Vision is beyond what our eyes can see because eyes see giants and vision sees God.

Do we see obstacles or opportunity?

Do we see doors or difficulties?

The message isn't against frugal decisions or fiscal responsibilities but the message is about asking the question: "Is this opportunities credible and does it honor God?"

The measurement is the voice of God. (We recognize the voice because we've heard it before-in smaller decisions-like David did when the lion and the bear attacked his sheep. He knew the voice and power of God so when he saw the giant, he said, "You're too big to miss!"

The biggest obstacle may be the biggest opportunity. IF God has opened a door, he will help us walk through it.

TOP EIGHT WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR HEART FOR CHRISTMAS

Top Eight Ways to Change Your Heart for Christmas

1. Read the story of Christmas found in Luke and Matthew every morning to remind you of the reason for the season.
2. Say Merry Christmas when someone says happy holidays.
3. Slow down. Don't do something on your "To Do" list. Instead of baking cookies, buy them; instead of all those decorations, leave some in the storage boxes for another year.
4. Smile
5. Spend one afternoon at the mall without buying anything. Grab a cup of your favorite coffee or tea, sit down --- watch the crowds, especially the children.
6. Play Christmas music all through the house.
7. Put out a jigsaw puzzle for the whole family to work on through the season.
8. Every time you see a shepherd in a Nativity, remember to be as joyous as they were.

Merry Christmas to all!

Psalms reading plan

You're invited!

Join George and me as we read the Psalms together. All 150 Psalms every month. It's easy and fun!

Here's the plan:

Pick today's date. Read that Psalm, then add 30 read that Psalm, then add 30 and read that Psalm too until you've read five Psalms each day.

So on the 1st day of the month, you read 1, 31, 61, 91, 121.
and on the 8th day of the month, you read 8, 38, 68, 98, 128
and on the 20th day of the month, you read 20, 50, 80, 110, 140
and on the 25th day of the month, you read 25, 55, 85, 115, 145.

Got it?


It's simple. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you know which Psalms to read because you know the date!

I like to call this my "NO Guilt" plan because if you miss a day, it doesn't mean you have to go back and try to catch up (as in some devo or reading plans). Instead, you just pick up on today's date! NO GUILT! I like that!

So you're invited to join us as we read our five Psalms together each morning. We sit by the pool. If you want to come to Texas, we'll pour you a cuppa and read along with you too.

Let us know if you are joining in!

Happy "no guilt" reading.

Hanging on

Early this morning when the air was still misty and barely light, I let Isabelle out the back door. She took off for her favorite spot and disappeared from sight. I looked around the glassed-in porch thinking I needed to do some organizing and cleaning out here today.

When I looked back outside, Isabelle was hanging from the side of the pool!

I started running toward her speaking words of comfort, "Hold on Izzy. I'm coming."

When I reached her, I tried to coax her over just three inches to the step where she could gain her footing and climb out. She wouldn't budge. She pulled harder on her two front paws somehow digging her claws into the concrete and tile. I reached under her front leg and gave her a small lift which was all she needed to make her way out of the pool.

As I dried her off I noticed that her head and front paws weren't wet at all. Somehow she had fallen into the pool backwards and caught herself on the edge. And instead of letting go and swimming to the steps which she knows how to do, she desperately hung on. With her weight and girth, there wasn't much hope of her getting out alone yet she wouldn't let go.

How many times do I hang on to my opinion or stubbornly cling to my ideas when all I'd have to do is reconsider my position just a little bit to be safe and happy? How many times do I cling to my way instead of letting God show me a better way?

I'm so glad God is willing to give me that little nudge I need to lift me out of danger. Other wise I'd just be dog paddling alone.

Ps 10:12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.Do not forget the helpless.
Ps 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire;he set my feet on a rockand gave me a firm place to stand.