Alive and Active Life

If I asked you what your 3 most important keys are – what would you say? Maybe the keys to your house, your car, and your _____________ . (fill in the blank: safe, diary, yard barn, motorcycle, locked snack box, or ?)

These days, you don’t always use a metal key to get into locked places. There are new, super-cool, technology keys – like a key fob, access ID card, device password, dual authentication, retinal scan, DNA match, fingerprint access, etc. (No modern snack box locks that I’m aware of!)

Keys are important to us. They help us keep things safe. They bring a certain assurance and peace of mind. We’ve all found out – some the hard way – that keeping valuables unlocked can mean losing them!

But there are still dependables. I think I made that word up – but I like it! Dependables are things you can truly rely on to keep your important stuff safe. In these recent days, it seems increasingly important to have life dependables. I’ve been pondering 3 of the most important, dependable “keys” we have.

First I want to reflect on 3 things I’ve heard – especially the last year or two. Perhaps you’ve heard similar statements:

OR it might sound like –

THEN there’s this one –

Well, my friend, those are issues we all tend to struggle with in one form or another. So, you are not alone. Those issues are important to most of us. We want to keep our life stuff safe. We want assurance and peace of mind. Our life valuables are special enough to protect. We don’t want to lose them. That’s why we actually need – NOT a metal key and – NOT a new, super-cool, technology key. We need powerful, invisible, effective spiritual keys to guard our hearts – our life stuff. Our lives are important to us – and to God! They are worth protecting. So He gives you 3 most important keys.

I believe there are 3 most important keys to every follower of Jesus. And these keys are not just for new believers. They are “tried-and-true, never-rust, never-bend-out-of-shape, handy-dandy, always work, never-break-off-in-the-lock” kind of keys. A seasoned believer should be using these 3 most important keys every day. If you ever think you know all about this and can skip over it – you may have already been robbed of your valuable life stuff. These 3 keys are the air, bread, and water of God’s people:

When you face challenges, stresses, and unknowns, it can be unnerving. Anxiety can set in. Your comfort zone is stretched. Equilibrium is threatened. Even safety is threatened – on a global level and on an individual daily level. Time for a key! You need these 3 most important keys! And you need to know how to use them effectively. These keys will calm anxiety, stretch your comfort zone safely, and restore equilibrium. They will bring assurance and peace of mind.

Certain things happen underneath and inside you when you trust, obey, and rest.

When you choose to trust God, you exercise faith in the safest, strongest Person that exists. This Person made everything! This Person also invites you to be His dear friend! You can trust Him! Prov. 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Let me just say – if you don’t have this key, you’re gonna lose your life stuff.

When you resolve to obey God, you practice surrender for a better way than your own. Plus, you choose to be the person you were created to be. Why not find out who you are intended to be – and courageously BE that person . . . with the help of your dear Friend, Jesus? Jn. 14:15 says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”  Prov. 18:24 tells you that Jesus “is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Let me just say – without a resolve to obey, you are going to flounder.

When you choose to rest in God, you pick up the peace Jesus promised you. It becomes one of your treasures. This rest brings a deep satisfaction and contentment as you just relax into Jesus. He loves you – so much! Jn. 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Then Ps. 131:2a gives the action step needed to enter into peace. “I calm and quiet my soul.” That’s your part. Let me just say – if you don’t step into God’s peace as you navigate your troubles, you might just fall apart! 

So, what is the stuff happening underneath and inside you –

Trust results from Faith. (That means you are actively believing God.)

Obey results from Surrender. (That means you are giving yourself completely to God.)

Rest results from embracing Peace. (That means you are content to be who He designed you to be.)

Here is another way of looking at this information. Sometimes seeing a chart helps.

Those things go on underneath and inside you – in your deepest heart – as you engage your full self in using your 3 most important keys: Trust, Obey, Rest. They are important. Why? Because it’s not only using these keys that changes you. It’s what is happening underneath and inside you as you use them. Ask God to transform you as you insert and turn your 3 most important keys. Partner With God! You Can Do This! Love God back by using your 3 most important keys!

While you are busy doing the work of trusting, obeying, and resting, what is God busy doing? Let’s use His own words to answer that question. (Scripture always gives insightful, rich answers to our life questions as we try to keep our life stuff safe.)

“Before they call, I will answer. While they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Is. 65:24)

That’s what God is busy doing. Let me say it this way: BEFORE you cry out to Him, He is already answering. WHILE you are still forming your request and presenting it, He is hearing you loud and clear.

Yes, God is poised in position, ready to launch into action the second you use your Trust Key. You know what else God is busy doing? He is looking to reward you when your heart is fully committed to use your Obey Key. (“…the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chron. 16:9) And He has also prepared special renewing times of oasis along your path as you use your Rest Key. (“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Mt. 11:28)

Use your 3 most important keys every day to have an Alive and Active Life!

Last article talked about the 4 soils of the heart. It was a fascinating exploration of a parable Jesus told about how different people receive and interact with God’s Word. The soil of the heart indicates the condition of the soul. Jesus’ parable also strongly suggests reasons why some people set out to follow Jesus, but end up discouraged and even walk away. Life is challenging. And it’s confusing when you feel you are being turned upside-down as a believer in Jesus.

Some days you literally feel turned upside-down. So much flows against your wishes. You may suffer losses you didn’t expect. Perhaps your dreams have been shattered. You know God is with you, but it seems He is allowing your life soil to be turned and overturned in ways that are almost unbearable. During these turned upside-down times, it’s tempting to lose hope.

Every person I know has ended up somewhere on this spectrum at some point in their life. If you are here now, you are normal. And you are not alone.

You might wonder – is God allowing my life to be ruined? Why is He allowing this to happen to me? What did I do to bring this on? The Bible clearly states God does not tempt His people. (Jas. 1:13) Instead, God is your Helper, Protector, and He sides with you against the fallen conditions we all live in. (Ps. 118:7a; Ps. 32:7; Is. 52:12b)

In the article of the 4 soils, we asked, “Are you willing to let God till your life soil, turn it upside-down, rake it, fertilize and water it, pull weeds out that He says don’t belong?” I hope you answer “yes” to that question. God uses this broken world to do incredible, strategic, beautiful things in His people. When God is tilling your soil, it’s the best thing that could ever happen to you. “Behold, I am making everything new.” (Rev. 21:5)

Remember you live in a fallen world. So it’s not God working against you. In fact, “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” (Phil. 2:13) He intends to “equip you with everything good for doing His will . . .” (Heb. 13:21) “His divine power has given you everything you need for life and godliness.” (2 Pet. 1:3)

What are God’s intentions toward you? Scripture takes a bold, clear position about God’s intentions regarding your life (and every believer). He is doing something in unseen dimensions to build you up in strength and effectiveness. “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6) God is doing a good work in you. Will you let Him carry it on to completion?

God uses the reality of living in a broken world to transform you into exactly the person you’ve always wanted to be. I mean God’s original design of the deeper person, rich with character, full of God’s life. That is the person He is working to transform you into. If you saw who God created you to be, you’d love it. Maybe you don’t know yourself in Christ well enough yet.

As God ploughs the human heart, the tilling process is grueling. His plough slices in and opens the soil of your life – almost like a wound. He exposes, turns over, and breaks down the big clods of hard soil. His goal? He wants to plant His hope into your heart and His character into your spirit. God is for you, not against you. But He must break down any hard areas of your life soil to make it ready to receive something “new.”

God wants to do a “new” thing in your heart. He has “new” seeds and young seedlings He wants to gently plant into your turned-over life soil. His loving hands press these “new” plantings gently, yet firmly, into place.

He provides nutrients, living water, and His own sunshine to these “new” planted patterns and habits so they produce an incredible harvest. Even if you are a seasoned believer, let God do something “new.” Why live off yesterday’s successes, last year’s crop, old harvests of character development. Go for the “new” that God wants to do in you. He is invested in your continued growth. Are you?

When God plants His “new” habits and patterns of godliness, He intends to raise you up into a strong, seasoned, mature representative of Jesus Christ. He wants you to be a leader, a discipler, an investor in other people’s hearts. Would you be willing to accept His invitation to help Him work the soil of others’ hearts?

Scripture says, “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” (Is. 61:3) Yes – you can be a strong, tall oak tree in God’s Kingdom. He wants to nurture that stability and strength in your life soil. But this “new” working must be met with receptivity and resolve. And you’re the only one that can provide those two things.

Faith and obedience are required to care for God’s “new” planting. This response back to God gives you ownership in His work. It makes you a partner in things that are most important to Him.

When you partner with God in this “new” planting investment (first in you – and then in others), it is exciting to see tiny pokes of green growth pushing up in soft, pliable life soil. “New” leaves form on stems of your “new” growth in Christ. In fact, partnership is a whole “new” way of living. God wants you to live intimately connected to His own heart, to know His deep love and abiding esteem for you.

To put it another way – God thinks you are totally worth His investment in your life. Why? Because He said so. Because you are you – created to do special and valuable works established before you were born. (Eph. 2:10) That’s how much purpose God attaches to your existence. He’s made you timeless by planting eternity in your heart. “From eternity I have been fashioned, from the beginning, from before the world existed.” (Prov. 8:23) Are you ready for “new” partnership with God? An eternal one that starts now and makes an absolute difference in this world?

You can do this. Partner with God. With faith and obedience, you learn how to fall into comfortable team work with God. Hear the psalmist respond to God tilling his life soil when life was turned upside-down. “I calm and quiet my soul.” (Ps. 130:2a) Are you taking this approach? Am I? We must ask ourselves hard questions about our response when God allows upside-down circumstances to frame His glory and your value.

Why not choose partnership with God when life is turned upside-down? Embrace “new” things God is doing in your heart. You will notice increased strength and stability – a planting that can weather life storms and provide shelter for others.

I urge you to click and read (or listen on our web player) the 4 Soils of the Heart. Ask yourself what kind of soil your heart is made of. Use the application questions in that article/episode to contemplate how the content applies to you.

Are you letting God till your life soil? Do you trust Him even when He is breaking your life soil into small pliable grains to be excellent planting soil? What about letting His strong, loving hands press His “new” seeds and young plants into your heart? Are you willing to let Him firmly sculpt His “new” character, habits, and patterns into the furrow He slices open in your heart?

Why not be an oak tree? In these troubled times, we need strength in the hearts of God’s people. What specific things will you do to partner with God as He tills your life soil? Write these down and date them. Pray over them. Become an amazing planting. Jesus wants you to live an Alive and Active Life.

Early in this article, I declared that God is your Helper, Protector, and He sides with you against the fallen conditions we all live in. Then I gave you references of Ps. 118:7a; Ps. 32:7; Is. 52:12b. I’m going to close with these words of “new’ hope when your life is turned upside-down! These words help you look at life through the right lens.

Ps. 118:7a – “The Lord is on my side as my helper.”

Ps. 32:7 – “You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

Is. 52:12b – “The Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

During your seasons of difficulty when your life is turned upside-down, remember – God wants to do a brand “new” thing in your life.

Many are getting ready to plant and tend various gardens again this year. Some will be breaking up new ground to start from scratch. Others will be expanding or re-structuring existing gardens. Farmers will turn attention to the state of their fields. All who plant hope for beauty and harvest. So they have concern for the state of the soil they plant in. There is a life lesson in this. Soils of the heart – we should be concerned about the condition of our heart’s soil. Is it ready for beauty and harvest?

When you plant any crop, it is critical to identify soil composition, location, and natural geographical considerations. Otherwise, there will be little – or no beauty and harvest.

One of Jesus’ popular parables – the soils of the heart – is recorded in Mt. 13, Mk. 4, and Lk. 8. Jesus masterfully uses tangible, practical examples from people’s daily lives. Contemporary farmers of Bible days would most often plough with simple implements, sow seeds by hand-scattering, and hope for rain. They paid attention to the kind of soil they sowed seeds into. Not of course, with the modern technology and chemistry we employ now. But they did consider it seriously. Jesus used these common-knowledge life facts to teach about soils of the heart.

Just as earth’s soil affects planting, the soils of the heart affect the planting of God’s seeds.

Seeding an area that is hard and packed is an exercise in futility. The seeds will never penetrate that ground. In fact, some might even bounce off onto more receptive ground surrounding the pounded earth. With no hope of rooting, those surface seeds might become nourishment for birds, insects, and even small animals. This hard, unreceptive soil is a path – a place where people travel: come and go. It’s not a place to linger, not a landing place, but rather a kind of corridor to “get somewhere.” It’s hardened by busy-ness.

The Word of God scattered on top of the “busy-ness” of people’s lives often falls off, bouncing away. Or it is picked off by a competing agenda. There is no lingering – only the coming and going to get somewhere and do something. It’s a place of “hardening” in people because no one intends to stay. No receptiveness or readiness of heart welcomes the value of the seeds. No attentiveness to beauty or harvest reaches out to absorb, cushion, and envelop God’s life seeds. It sounds a bit like this –

Everyday jobs, my schedule, same sounds – same sights, strategic planning, thinking, travel, meetings, relationships, details, responsibilities, deadlines, opportunities, and my agenda. And – oh, yes – the Word of God bouncing across it all. Falling off . . . to . . . uh – somewhere.

You know, harvest crops require warm, receptive soil, and the seeds cannot be brushed aside by the busy comings and goings of life. They need deliberate planting. The busy paths of life are not the fertile ground of future beauty and harvests of the heart.

Any seed that happens to land between rocks and pebbles may happily grow up only to be short-lived. The competition for land with nutrients will almost always be won by the forceful pre-occupying boulders and rocks. Any plant that does begin to root between the stones will soon wither with no ability to reach down into the layers where water is stored.

When Scripture is scattered over soils of the heart already too full, too complicated, littered with many self-imposed life boulders, there will not be impressive beauty or harvest. Unless a major bull dozing takes place, it will only tease with possibilities . . . but not be dependable enough to support the bounty God desires to give.

Rocky ground is not preferred for a bumper crop. It’s nearly impossible to work up. It’s not pliable. With no accountability for prep and care required for high quality seed crop, this heart soil is not compatible for beauty and harvest. In today’s world, it looks like this –

Love good news! Tell me positive messages. Applaud my accomplishments. My life is littered with them! OK, throw in God’s Word, too. There’s room for it all. Wait! – I’m supposed to do what Scripture says? Practice God’s principles – instead of my own agenda? Give up my life to save it? Living sacrifice? Wait – that’s expecting too much. In fact, it’s consuming. I have a life to live here! My circumstances are difficult. Time is tight. Setting aside my preferences won’t work. Obeying God costs more than I’m prepared to invest. After all, I have a collection of personal preferences in my life soil.

This ground is often properly prepared to receive good seed. Freshly tilled and raked. After seeding, however, it is not tended on a regular basis. No consistent watering or pains-taking, critical weeding. No practices of adding nutrients or aerating. It’s a lazy, easy-come/easy-go kind of gardening. When harvest time comes, the gardener never knows for sure what should be harvested. The desired crop is thin and emaciated. If any harvest will be salvaged, a pains-taking sorting must take place first. Honestly? The pains-taking weeding at planting and during growing season would have been easier.

When a heart field is prepared but not kept up, good growth appears at first after receiving God’s Word. Then invading weed patterns and habits grow up quickly and compete for life nutrients, time, and energy. Good growth begins to shrivel and there is no beauty or harvest. The yield is similar to the rocky soil. But the thorn-infested crop is thin. Emaciated. It’s a bit like this in real life –

Sounds like good news. I’ll take some. But I want other things, too. Thinning my life planting to just God’s principles is not practical in a modern world. I need to make life happen. Run hard. Keep up with others. I could miss my moment. What if I lose my health insurance or job? What if I can’t pay my bills or the stock market crashes? I’ve saved to buy things, go places, do things. What if I die first? What if . . . ?

This lush rich soil is properly tilled, raked, and prepared. It is fertilized to the needs of the seeds and young plants. Water supply is immediate to give new plantings comfort, support, and nurture. The planted area is checked daily, weeds are pulled, stones removed. Tools loosen the soil to ensure proper aerating. Spacing and planning for future full growth is considered. The very “process” is enjoyed, making the experience lush and rich – just like the soil. Miraculous new growth is eagerly expected.

When God’s Word is received into a properly prepared heart, there is immediate growth. This person’s heart soil is made ready for beauty and harvest by the tilling and breaking life brings, and this person turns to God during the “upheaval” as their soil is prepared for more. Their heart trusts and obeys even while life is turned upside-down and raked over. They pluck out unhealthy, unnecessary pursuits and preferences to leave what is simple and rooted in faith. Good soils of the heart are maintained, nutrients are replenished, watered often – with God’s words of life. In practical terms, it looks something like this in today’s world –

Truth. God’s loving hands breaking up my hard areas. Water to my weary soul. Good news from a good God. Good promises and principles I am resolved to practice – even though I don’t understand them. Very hard work. A leap into Christ when I’m afraid. Believing. Training. Drilling into the details of my life. It looks different than I thought it would. But – it’s renewing, refreshing. In fact, it’s redeeming all things in my life! God is good. I will trust Him. I will obey no matter what my feelings do.

And then comes the beauty and the harvest.

You can have beauty and harvest in your life garden. Why not let God transform the soil of your heart to be a rich place for God’s planting? Why not eagerly anticipate His harvest of  beauty?

Heb. 6:8 – “But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.”

Here are some questions to help you assess the quality of your life soil. Be honest as you answer. Why not aim for beauty and harvest?

Why not ask God to help you work on the soil of your life garden? Why not let God’s loving, kind, skillful hands sculpt His planting strategy in your heart soil? It’s His desire that you have a beautiful life garden and a harvest. And He wants to help you grow it. Will you let Him?

I’ve found the content of this article has had huge impact in my life. Interestingly, it has influenced my relationships – with friends, family, co-workers, and others. So what are we looking at today? It has to do with safety. There are threats everywhere against folks. Individuals, families, places of employment and education, even churches. Everything looks OK from the outside, but inside where people are, and especially deep inside people, there are broken pieces. One of the greatest assurances you can know and bring into life is  – you can be safe with God. Why? Because God promises!

So, I guess the question is – how do you live practically in this safety? Let’s explore being safe with God and look at action steps you can practice to be safe with God.

One of the first things you do when you walk into a room is turn on the light to see everything, prevent falls and bumps, and help you find your way. Light gives familiarity to make you feel welcome to the room. Light helps people feel more safe, probably because they can use their senses, starting with their eyes, to navigate the environment’s unknowns.

This is a great example of how to “walk into rooms of your life.” You spend lots of time and energy navigating your life and responsibilities. You want to do right for each family member, friend, or co-worker – to keep everyone safe at every level.

You need light to be safe. To be warm. So often it feels like we walk in the cold dark. God wants His children to turn the light on with eyes of faith. Then you can navigate conversations, relationships, and decisions.

So, what practical impact does light have as you stay safe with God?

Now – let’s explore each of these six point.

It’s easy to turn a light on in a room. Why is it so challenging to turn on the light in your thoughts and soul? You can’t be sure of safety if you can’t see your way around a dark room. This is true of dimensions you can’t see, too. Heb. 3:1 says to “fix your thoughts on Jesus.” And Scripture also says, “set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col. 3:2) This is turning the light on – even if you still feel you are walking in the dark. And it’s safe.

Let’s face it, your mind is invisible, yet your thoughts determine your perspective. Your heart and affections are unseen. The complications and twists of life are often invisible – hard to anticipate. Your spiritual well-being is invisible to the human eye. So, for safety . . . learn how to turn the light on in every dimension.

Have you turned the light on in your thoughts and soul to stay in a place of safety? Are you teaching your children how to live this bravely?

Jesus often refers to Himself as the Light. He is inviting, true, and powerful. His love chases heart shadows away and helps you clean out hidden dark corners. When you turn His light on in your heart, you find courage and purpose welling up. When you flip His light switch on in your mind and conscience, you find gratitude when He points out an area that needs to be confessed and changed. It’s not threatening. It’s safe. Because God is inviting, true, and powerful.

Walking close to Jesus means you make choices that prove you prefer walking in His light rather than lingering in the darkness of the world. It means your desire to know Jesus and walk in truth is stronger than your concern over “what’s next,” or your fear of rejection, or concern of having your heart exposed.

Do you enjoying the invitation, truth, and power of God’s loving light every day?

God gave His people the Law, the Prophets, His Scriptures, and His Son – the Light of the world! (Mt. 5:14; Jn. 8:12) How can you possibly address life tangles without necessary information? How can you keep your family safe if you don’t know the dangers? All this relevant, current data you need is in Scripture. God wants you to be “in the know.”

God reveals Himself to you every day using the beauty and wonder of creation, friends, His provisions, or special details. In Jn. 16:33, God thoughtfully gives you the “heads up.” “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” God keeps you in the loop so you can guide your family and live well. But you will also discover you can walk in the dark (of life) while actually living in the light (of God)!

Are you living by faith in God’s light and letting this knowledge affect how you interact with your family and others?

The “Lover of Light” is not afraid to let light shine into the depths of their heart. They are more concerned about remaining in the light than what the light might reveal. The psalmist says it like this – “Your rod and staff comfort me.” (Ps. 23: 4b) God’s correction is comforting.

Why not invite God’s light to point out anything that makes Him sad? (Ps. 139:24) You can apply time, energy, and resources to walk in the dark (of life) while living in the light (of God). Simply put, the lover of light intentionally works to overcome fear and pride to stay with God in His light. This is true even when they must walk in a dark place for a long time.

Do you love the light? Are you walking comfortably in it?

Even though God’s light exposes things, it’s not a threat. Because God is dependable and good, you are always safe with Him. You can welcome His probing light. It’s comforting, not scary. Even when He reveals things you need to change, that exposure fills you with hope . . . because God loves and esteems you. Your value is never in question. Nothing can take away your peace in Christ – except a lie. Do you believe God is dependable, good, and safe? Which do you value most: hiding or freedom?

God promises to give you the desires of your heart. He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn. Wouldn’t it be logical to conclude His intentions toward you are dependable, good, and safe? (Ps. 37:3-9)

If there is no darkness in God, why remain at a distance from Him? Do those who know you best see you welcome accountability and eagerly embrace opportunities to learn and grow?

The cross of Jesus brought the light to you. That rough, wooden torture rack opened Heaven’s light and slammed the door of darkness and Hell for good. The cross means you can be safe with God, living in His beautiful light forever, even while walking in a dark world with dark circumstances.

As a child of the light, your life can spread God’s goodness and truth. You can have a very satisfying, dependable influence over your family and others.

So, invite the light. Turn it on. Ask for more. Use your faith switch. Let God’s light expose anything that needs to change.

Do you start at the cross each day? How are you spreading God’s dependable, good safety? Do you regularly invite His light into your soul? Would your family agree?

Browse back through the six points we explored. The last sentence in each section (in italics) is your application. For convenience, I will list them again here:

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 Jn. 1:7)

User your faith switch and turn on the light. And follow these action steps to stay safe with God.

* Large portions of this article are excerpts from Reach Back (p. 133 and 134)

Hope is a critical component to being vibrant and healthy. When hope wanes, everything cycles downward. You need to renew hope. Do you know how to renew hope? How is your hope doing today?

I’ll be transparent here. Sometimes my hope gets beat up a bit. I’m guessing you might have the same happen to your hope occasionally. Hope goes through an erosion process when you have to stand alone in some issue. Or when you have been plodding for a very long time and there is no end in sight. It may be a tragedy has invaded your life. Sometimes you feel helpless to hold things together and go forward. Have your resources run out? Is someone making your life really challenging? Perhaps a person has literally broken your heart. You need steps to renew hope.           

I’ve experienced most of the scenarios listed above. Very likely, you have, too. In order to renew hope, I urge you to spend time alone with the Lord each day. Be vulnerable with Him. Resolve to trust Him “against all hope.” I encourage you to grab onto these things even before you explore the action steps following. Why? Because it works! That’s what I do first when my hope gets hit. Transparent time with Jesus helps re-set perspective. Trusting Him against all hope stirs hope up again.

I want to stress it’s not just when your hope gets smashed that you spend time with the Lord. That needs to be a daily, special time with Him when you read, meditate on, and memorize Scriptures. Your regular time includes interacting with principles you read from God’s Word – often through some kind of journaling. And it includes prayer – for you and for others. This sets you up for daily strong hope.

In addition to the above things I do first to renew my hope, I’ve found some action steps that help with hope. I pray you be encouraged as you read these steps. They are practical, my friend. Carry them out to see positive changes . . . maybe not in your circumstance – but definitely in you!

The first thing to wrestle to the ground with damaged hope is to identify that your hope is literally hanging by a thread. Perhaps it’s already gone. That may sound so simple, but it is critical to “name it.” Naming a problem is the start point to address it. Then you can take an informed approach into the next action steps.

Identify your hope is slipping away.

The second thing to put into action is to take responsibility for your perspective. At this step, you decide whether you are going to be the manager over your thoughts, words, moods, and actions. Or will you let them manage you? Whether you are at fault or not in your situation doesn’t matter. What matters is what the “fall-out” is doing to you. And that is yours to manage under the loving kindness of God. He will help you pick this up, even if the circumstances were unfair.

So, take responsibility for your perspective in order to hang onto hope.

Third thing to do is to stand tall – and resolve that there is a solution. You just need to find it with God’s help. This step is very hard when you are already discouraged. However, if a person refuses to think and pray about a solution, they can slip into depression. It’s a bit like “sealing your doom.” It is hard enough to be discouraged. Depression can be worse. Instead of slipping down, rise up! God created you with dignity and honor – in His image. You can stand tall. He created you with discipline and the ability to solve problems – similarly to how He operates. You can be resolved.

If you stand tall and resolved, you have a really good shot at pulling back into hope.

Fourth, quickly and eagerly turn to God for His help. You need a very specific posture as you do this or you might as well just stare in the mirror. Your posture needs to be one of reminding yourself who God really is. Focus on the names God calls Himself for your well-being.

Consider this. God actually didn’t have a name in the Old Testament for a long time. As human history progressed, He began to name Himself for the sake of His people. His names correspond to His peoples’ needs. . . to your needs. Check it out. He calls Himself everything you need.

Quickly turn to God, and eagerly grab onto His names by faith to stir hope.

The Fifth action step to tackle lost hope is to identify your needs. This takes a bit of work, some careful thought, prayer, and some time. Yet, in order to grab hold of the name God calls Himself to meet your need, you need to “name the need.” Doesn’t that make sense? It’s like the puzzle piece you find and identify fits the very spot you’ve been searching for.

(For more on God’s names and your needs, select my book Reach Back: Intentionally Reaching Back to God.)

Identifying your needs is your critical part in putting your hope puzzle back together.

Sixth, take your hands off what you expect God’s solution to look like. It is so tempting to insist the answer look like you have it pictured in your head. But that limits God. Why would you limit the one power that can actually address your situation and restore your hope? Good question!

Eph. 1: 17-23 says, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.”

Verses 19 and 20 claim the power available to you is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. That’s a wow. Surely that power will do something to renew your hope.

But, you have to let go of everything you are hanging onto except Jesus to reclaim your hope.

The Seventh thing to do is claim a Scripture that addresses your need. Does that sound old-fashioned? Maybe a bit unrealistic? Please believe me when I say it is very real, extremely relevant, and exactly what you need. We could use a little more old-fashioned in this world. So –

If you claim Scripture in a sincere, resolved manner, your hope will begin a miraculous resurrection . . . just like the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Finally, do the unthinkable: throw yourself into God! That’s right. Throw yourself into Him! This is a faith step. Another way to say it is this. Literally tether your heart to Him. Resolve to trust and obey no matter what your feelings are doing. This will feel like the unthinkable when you are without hope. It’s the smartest, most logical, comforting action you can take.

Every single time I have done this without reserve, my hope is renewed, restored, and refreshed! It doesn’t always happen immediately, but resolve steadies you until hope is reborn.

When you do the unthinkable and throw yourself with abandon into God, you absolutely connect with hope again!

First, let’s review the 8 steps to renew hope:

When your hope is fading – or maybe it’s already gone, follow these steps to gain it back. Cover this process with prayer. Be patient and wait on the Lord. He will renew your hope in a way that will delight your soul. He is faithful.

Have you ever been stuck? You want to break free and make progress, but a helpless feeling pervades. Still, part of you knows there has to be an option to get unstuck. What a miserable place: feeling suspended, unable to maneuver, paralyzed to come up with a plan. Yet, in your heart, and with God’s help, you suspect you are able to get unstuck – somehow! You just don’t know how.

Getting locked into stuck patterns happens so easily. Going with the flow, riding the wave, thinking – “I’ve got this,” being blind-sided, fear of man, trying to please everyone, working too hard, even ignoring better decisions. Those (and more) can feed getting stuck. It’s so much easier to get stuck than unstuck.

For this one reason (easier to get in than out), it’s helpful to work on the front-end for success. Front-end work gives better success rates and prevents slipping into unhealthy patterns that keep people stuck. When a person is not working hard on the front-end, the door to get stuck is already open.

What do you do if you missed the front-end work, and now you are on the back-end? Stuck! When unhealthy patterns form in your life, it’s hard to admit. It’s even harder to break free. The path with least resistance is easier. So, what do you do?

Your life is a garden. Just as a plot of ground needs to be prepped for seeds or young plants, your life soil must be prepped to receive new habits or “young patterns.” It’s hard to break new ground that’s hardened. A well-travelled path needs a good tilling to break it up. This is exactly what you need to start to get unstuck.

So, three good questions to help you get started getting unstuck:

God wants to plant good seeds and new young patterns in your life. Ready to receive them?

To break up hard, unyielding ground, even a powerful tiller “bounces” off at first. It takes some pretty radical action on the soil:

You have an enemy who wants to keep your life a hard path. He wants to keep you stuck. So, he works against your efforts. However, God wants you to be free, effective, and productive. The Bible says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set you free.” (Gal. 5:1)

If you are willing to be broken – no longer denying or procrastinating – certain good things will happen inside you. A healthier person begins to emerge. Then you can plant new habits and patterns in your life.

Before you can engage the 7 steps (below) that get you unstuck, you need to commit to these starter points:

There is no magic formula or secret fix to get unstuck. However, there are things you can do to turn a corner and gain successes. Here are 7 steps that help you take responsibility to get unstuck. Every one of these 7 steps must be done by prayer and relying on God’s power to give you strength. But He’s not going to do it for you. Your partnership with Him is critical to getting unstuck.

Here is the short list we will explore in depth next:

We talked about front-end work keeping you from getting stuck. But if you are already stuck, you still engage in front-end work. Believe it or not, front-end work prevents you from stuck, gets you out of stuck, and keeps you unstuck. Plus, by committing to front-end work, you form the habit of that approach for the future.

Here are the 7 steps explored in more depth.

Admit up front “this is where I am.” And – “this is going to be challenging.” Then choose courage. Please believe in the value of your life and God’s love for you. Courage means resolve to make good decisions and carrying out action steps – no matter how you feel. No matter what others say.

Courage is a front-end work toward success.

Cultivate awareness to what you are thinking each moment. Be alert to deeper patterns, excuses, justifications, etc. Go “toe-to-toe” with yourself, and call yourself out on these. Be hard on yourself in the right way, not the wrong way.

Focus on breaking up hard ground so you can have pliable soil in your life garden. Think solutions. Options. Possibilities. Prepare to be mentally and emotionally tired at the end of the day.

Alertness and focus form front-end work of channeling your choices and energy.

Force your mind to engage. Remember what you are doing and why. Confusion and fear don’t come from God. (2 Tim.1:7) Get stubborn about good stuff. Be hard on yourself in the right way. Examples: don’t let yourself slump into lazy habits. Refuse to listen to discouragement. Crush procrastination. Don’t give your ear to the usual justifications. Instead, use your brain to solve problems and make better decisions.

Making your brain work is the front-end work of an effective plan to get unstuck.

Once your brain is on board, get your body signed up. No matter how you feel, take “all of you” in the direction of your goals. This takes resolve. Set aside feelings that munch on your courage and determination. Put reminders on your device. Memorize and meditate on Scripture to help. Journal. Put creative energy into these commitments you are making.

Investing energy into commitment is front-end work to get unstuck.

Sure, you need to get yourself in the game. But self-focus causes momentum to die. Instead, focus on what you are working to accomplish. Drill into well-thought action steps and the planting of new patterns. You’ve got to be involved. Your garden doesn’t get planted on its own. Your life matters for something bigger than you. Life is big, rich, and full. Remember there is good all around you. Step out of you, and don’t give in to self-absorption.

Refusing to be self-focused is the front-end work of living in the big picture.

You need total buy-in. Get all of you signed up! Better to fail trying than to fail to try. Failing forward is normal! There’s not a person on the globe who doesn’t fail. When you throw data from failure into your plan to get unstuck, you can learn a TON about yourself and about succeeding. Instead of trying to be perfect – just go forward! You must be resolved to get unstuck. Stomp your foot if you have to. Just do it.

Adopting total buy-in is the front-end work of resolve.

Being calm and quiet is a choice. It takes time to break free and get unstuck. It will seem like a fight at first. But that’s just you wrestling your will into place. Follow-through with steady perseverance. Soon you will notice strength and peace taking root and rising up. I would simply say – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6) Here’s an easy-to-remember unstuck Scripture – “I calm and quiet my soul.” (Ps. 131:2a)

Being calm and quiet is the front-end work to live in freedom.

You can get unstuck!

God’s part?

Your part?

God values your freedom Do you? Enough to do the front-end work of getting and staying unstuck?

So many people struggle with this human condition. It affects everyone, from individuals who have no one to count on, to those who have suffered a terrible loss, to those who have been mistreated. However, loneliness also affects people who have a life partner, a dear friend, or a group they’ve been welcomed into. The condition of loneliness grabs hold of all hearts at some time or other.

Loneliness seems to have mushroomed during this pandemic. From the initial lock-downs to continued social distancing. Even just “masking” seems to interfere with connecting. It’s as if we can’t really “see” one another.

Loneliness is common to all people, married or not, young or old, scientist or artist, medical provider or patient, career professional or home-maker, student or teacher, company president or line-worker. It’s an experience that gnaws at every heart.

Because loneliness is so common, you are in the normal group as you deal with it. Loneliness doesn’t ask permission to land. It simply steals into your heart, invades your well-being, and even threatens hope. The hungry ache of loneliness eats up joy and is a common human condition.

There are lots of human reasons for loneliness. Books have been written on the subject. We aren’t going to cover human reasons today. They are important, of course. Yet, let’s explore root conditions underneath loneliness.

As people seek meaningful existence, they yearn for deeper, richer relationships. Still, even with good friends/associates/family relationships in place, a person can still feel pangs of loneliness! Lonely people can wonder where their peace disappeared. How they ended up in emotional displacement. Or they ponder what is wrong with them. Even when things are going well, the invasion of loneliness can be a surprise.

That need – that drive – for deeper, meaningful intimacy is one of the greatest struggles of life. I’m going to boldly say the underlying element of loneliness is the human spirit crying out for more of God.

You can learn to manage loneliness effectively, or you can deny it’s existence and escape toward anything that might curb the hungry ache. To address loneliness, you need to take thoughtful action.

If you draw near God (a faith thing), loneliness can morph into comfort. Scripture says, “deep calls to deep.” (Ps. 42:7) Do you hear it? God is calling to your deepest person. And your deep – your full essence – is yearning to be satisfied inside your Creator’s deep. This is real.

At this root, under ground where no one can see, God meets the deepest needs of your heart, if you let Him. A tree rises from this root and requires nurture. Practicing a balanced lifestyle, investing in good relationships, working to be the best “you” possible, and staying actively involved – those are examples of things that can nurture you even with loneliness present. However, the game-changer starts underground, alone with God, where only He sees. This unseen place (your deep) is where you are established. When you invite (by faith) God’s deep into your deep, this becomes your safe place.

Since loneliness comes to all people, engage creative ideas to help manage it. Some are listed below.

It’s also good to have action plans to stay on top of your loneliness on a regular basis. Some example plan templates you can build on are explained below the creative ideas.

Creative ideas and strategic plans enhance your level of success. Ideas help you at a practical level. Strategic plans define action steps that empower you to courageously find good in your life – if you are looking for it. Plans also give you a starting point – if you are willing to grow up from your underground root. Having a plan also feeds creativity – if you are willing to put some energy into being creative.

These are few examples of creative ideas:

You can manage loneliness. Why not be invested in your personal growth?

Here are three simple plans with ideas to build on. Use them to develop your own plan.

“It is what I do in my solitude that makes me fit for company.” (C. S. Lewis.)

Sometimes loneliness is because you are disconnected with yourself. Schedule time to reconnect with the person God created you to be by reconnecting with God. Loneliness is often stronger when you are very tired or personal resources are depleted. You need renewal.

Getting away by yourself seems anti-productive when addressing loneliness. It can actually help manage loneliness. Re-connect with who God created you. Dedicate your time alone to just “be” with Jesus. He is the only One who renews you at your root. Then re-enter daily life with a heart that’s re-booted.

Here are ideas of things to do alone with God. Add your own:

Let yourself enjoy God as you enjoy the activities. Enjoy this “underground safe place” at your root.

Just as spending time alone can help address loneliness, scheduling time with someone you trust – a kindred spirit – can help. If you don’t have someone like that, start by asking God for that kind of friend. Then be patient as He answers.

Outings with a good friend need more planning than time with yourself since you are dealing with several schedules. Start to:

To be purposeful about your time with your friend, agree on a loose, flexible agenda of activities. Plan things you both enjoy. Relax together. Have a nice dinner out. In all your activities and conversations, work together to focus on God’s work in your lives. Enjoy laughing. Cry together, if needed. Share Scriptures together. Practice gratitude and cheer together. You’ll be amazed what God does through this fellowship!

(Follow health safety during our battle against covid-19. Be patient just a bit longer. We’re closing in on normal. You may need to mask, social distance, or be outside for now. Many people are “going outdoors” to be together. You may choose “Time From A Distance” – email, zoom, texting, phone, skype, etc. Choose an option for now to be with someone else. . . and plan for closer, normal contact in the near future. And we’re trusting God for that.)

You need a daily action plan at your root to address loneliness, especially if it plagues you often.

Fast-paced lives make it difficult to get away. On the practical level, you need a plan to address daily loneliness. Here are some ideas to help manage and be nurtured on a regular basis. Add your own.

So those are ideas you can incorporate into your daily schedule.

When you work to identify your needs, and set up good action plans, you build healthy responses to loneliness. Use Plan 1, Plan 2, and/or Plan 3 to build on so you can be healthy as you manage your loneliness. Let your deep respond to God’s deep.

Much of this post is an excerpt from  Reach Back: Intentionally Reaching Back to God. It explores many topics common to Jesus followers. This book is my most “order another copy” publication as people go through it again or pass it on to others.

Reach Back can be used for your own personal study, with a friend, or in a group. Perhaps it can be a resource you use in your plan to manage loneliness.

To order Reach Back.

Have you ever seen an angel? I have not. I have a number of precious “people angels” in my life. But face-to-face with a real, live, heavenly angel? Not a chance!

Historically, whenever a person saw angels, they were dumb-founded, shocked, or simply terrified! Let’s look at a short list of encounters:

There are fascinating details surrounding these 7 angel encounters. Regular people doing regular things when God sends a “power visitor” to change the course of their life.

Moses had been caring of his father-in-law’s flocks for years. Then it happened! A burning bush. If you know anything about fire and bushes – the bush is supposed to burn up. Not this one. It just kept radiating, burning, blazing – making an extraordinary statement.

Moses was dumb-founded and super curious. Ex. 3:2-3 says – “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’ ” 

FYI – Moses obeys what the angel tells him to do from the burning bush!

Judges 6:12-13 tells the story of Gideon’s angel encounter. He was threshing wheat at the time. Here’s the short version – “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

Gideon then says what you and I would have at least thought, if not said. Gideon exercises “the fear of the Lord” with deep respect. But I just love his first words to this “larger-than-life” angel.

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all His wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

“Pardon me, my lord!” Isn’t that great?  . . . first words out, even with all his questions.

We often wonder about unsolved life mysteries. We groan at losses, grieve unfairness, regret mistakes, and hate unending barrage of problems. Worst of all, we sometimes lose “the fear of the Lord.” Gideon didn’t. His questions and frustrations were all couched within the context of deep respect for God.

FYI – Gideon didn’t need to understand everything to obey the angel to the detail!

Luke 2:8-10 says, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

These guys were “terrified.” An entity from another dimension appeared in piercing light and power. It made their littleness look even smaller! Have you ever been terrified? Not just scared. Terrified means you just hope to make it out alive. These shepherds would have rather taken on a bear or lion than an electric, powerful angel of the Heavenly Hosts.

FYI – the shepherds immediately obey the angel!

From the beginning of his adult story, Joseph has recurring encounters with angels. Most of us get important messages via mail, email, texts, or phone. But Joseph gets jolting, real-life, very-powerful, personal angel visits! Wow.

Mt. 1:20 records the first visit – “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” The Matthew Film portrays this visit dramatically. Joseph clutches his head, wondering if he is going insane, as he slowly sinks against a wall to the ground.

FYI – Joseph obeys the angel!

To be clear, Joseph gets critical data for “next personal decisions” from these electrically vibrant messengers. Visit #2 transpires after the wise men travel to see young Jesus.

“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Mt. 2:13)

FYI – Joseph obeys the angel – again! Middle of the night. No questions. Gathers traveling stuff, wife, child. Saddles up the donkey. Has no idea they will be gone for years. Doesn’t think about his property. Just obeys.

By this time, Joseph is getting used to the incredible angel directives. The next, and likely last, heavenly visit is recorded in Mt. 2:19. “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.’ ” 

Not that it is “hum-drum” by this point. But –

FYI – After these recurrent experiences, Joseph again obeys the angel! Probably not with a comfortable yawn as he says “OK” – but he definitely obeys.

Acts 12: 6-7 – “The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”

Peter is prepared to die. He’s getting good sleep, possibly anticipating “going home” to his beloved Jesus the next day. No fear. No worries. Just peaceful sleep. In fact, the angel has to hit him to wake him up! Wow.

FYI – Peter obeys the angel and walks out of prison. Not the “home-going” he anticipated, but grateful for more time to serve Jesus.

Now we consider the story of Easter. During that terrible week of preparation and suffering, Jesus is ministered to by His powerful, fully loyal, servant angels: glorious warriors of His Heavenly Hosts – God’s unstoppable army.

Then comes the critical cross. And burial. And then . . .

God sent an angel down to earth from Heaven after Jesus had already raised from the dead on Sunday morning. The angel is so electric, powerful, and pure, that he makes superheroes look like children at play. But this actually happens. The angel’s landing on earth likely shakes the earth.

The Easter Angel is given clear orders:

What would you do if an angel suddenly stood in front of you? Are you open to God’s messages without glorious angels? Do you receive daily from His Word? Are you honest, transparent, authentic, and respectful to the Commander in Chief of the Heavenly Hosts in your difficulties?

You can enjoy the comfort and joy of His undeserved friendship. God gives you friendship. He is the Commander in Chief of the heavenly hosts. He offers you friendship, and it doesn’t have to be through an angel. It’s real.

So the main question is: Do you obey . . . FYI?

Think about angels. And think about what it’s like to obey just because you trust God, and you love Him back. You want to respond to His friendship. Let that be your message to Jesus who gave you a very strong message at Easter time – “I LOVE YOU!”

*Portions taken from SharpShooting: Your Bronze Bow, day 87 – a study in Matthew.

We are excited to announce our name change! Intentional Living is now Alive and Active Life! You will notice changes on our website to reflect the new name. As we have been re-branding this past year, it’s been a process of new vision, excitement, challenge, and hard work. God started preparing our hearts last year about a name change. For half a year, there has been much prayer and exploration. Now He has laid a new path in front of our faith, and we are eager to see what God has planned. But – I want to tell you more about this change. I think you will find it interesting.

[Click on above image – “Alive and Active – Our New Name” – and please share on your social media to announce our name change.]

What is in a name? People research names and their meanings as they consider what to call their new baby – sometimes keeping the name secret till the birth. Often a woman willingly drops one name to pick up another name upon marriage. Executives ponder what to call their business, building, or products, identifying their brand by their purpose. Names bring a “taste” of what is being described or offered.

This is important. God intended a name to be meaningful. Every person, organization, and ministry should ask what’s in their name. What does it mean and communicate? After all, a name has power to define you. The old saying, “live up to your name” is an invitation to aspire to.

As Intentional Living, we’ve brought encouragement, resources, and tools we develop to Jesus followers. We want to help you be intentional about your faith in God. Our strong launch pad has always been God’s Word. Everything we do and say flows from principles in Scripture and is aimed your direction for the boost you need as a person of faith, living in difficult times. We want you to succeed in your relationship with Jesus Christ. And we sincerely want you to live an intentional life of purpose and meaning. In other words, it is our desire for you to have an Alive and Active Life.

So, let’s get to the point of how our new name, Alive and Active Life, refines our focus. Since every resource and tool we develop – books, e-books, audio files, articles, podcasts, shareable images, pamphlets, courses – starts in principles of Scripture, our new name narrows our purpose to help you literally live inside this place where God’s life and power are contained. Scripture is “God on paper.” It’s the powerhouse for your life. The name Alive and Active Life is very intentional. Where does this name come from? The answer: Scripture.

Heb. 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

God’s Word is the power center where you discover the meaning of your name and life. It’s your secret plan, your pivot point, your launch site, and your stable anchor. Scripture literally sets a path in front of you so you can “live forward.” It holds your hand as you walk beside Jesus. And Scripture guards your back. I think God really likes the idea of YOU having an Alive and Active Life fashioned after His Alive and Active Word.

[Click on above image – “The Word of God is Alive and Active. . . “ – and please share on your social media to announce our name change.]

Here are seven things God has taught us as we have served you and as He has given us a new name:

Now – let’s talk about you! God gives you a new name, known only to Him. (Is. 62:2; Rev. 2:17; 3:12) But He wants you to learn about who He created you to be and about your name. He doesn’t always tell you this name because He wants to teach it to you as you live. He treasures you and your name in His heart. You find out more about that name – and how to live up to it – by drawing closer to Jesus every day.

God designed your life and personality for Himself. This is a love statement, not a control scenario. The Lord loves you dearly. Consider this. Everything in creation, Jesus simply “spoke” into existence – except you. For you, He got into the earth with His own hands and formed you – for Himself – in His image – with a passionate heartbeat for you. God created you: His own child, His friend, His Bride. Then He spoke on your behalf in the form of His Word, a love letter for your life. It’s also a guide and instruction manual. God has a unique purpose for you to be alive and active! He wants you to live intentionally!

What does your name mean? Are you living up to your name? What “new name” could God be pressing into your life? Have you explored new things that give you clues about your new name? Why not make your life mission to have an Alive and Active Life as you live up to your new name?

How can our new name help you as you explore your new name from God?

Just as Easter reminds us Jesus is Alive and Active in our world today, so our website is designed to help you live an Alive and Active Life! Why not develop your own personal Alive and Active Life Tool-Box filled with resources and tools that you need to help you live intentionally?

“Get fit. Be Alive and Active. To stay healthy – be committed. A non-static lifestyle helps you meet all of life’s challenges and opportunities. In Christ, an Alive and Active Life incorporates being intentional in purpose with a goal in mind, for mind, body, and spirit.” (Thank you, Angela, for this incredible statement when you heard of our name change!)