Tag: Purpose

Finding Vision

Posted on by Jen Weir

Did you know there are 224 Bible verses regarding vision from both the Old and New Testaments? It would seem like vision is a big deal too our God. Is it for you?

Before we dive into vision and the importance of it for you personally, let’s see how good old dictionary.com defines vision.

(supernatural) vision; sight (from God)

Definition:

  1. the act or power of sensing with the eyes; sight.
  2. the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur.
  3. an experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine or other agency: a heavenly messenger appearing in a vision.Compare hallucination (def. 1).
  4. something seen or otherwise perceived during such an experience: The vision revealed its message.
  5. a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation: visions of wealth and glory.
  6. something seen; an object of sight.
  7. a scene, person, etc., of extraordinary beauty: The sky was a vision of red and pink.
  8. computer vision. verb (used with object)
  9. to envision, or picture mentally: She tried to vision herself in a past century.

When we were knit together in our mother’s womb, we were gifted and called by God. We were born with a unique skill set, one that was put in us, to do only what He wanted us to do. 

Before we are born, the Lord carefully knit us together in our mother’s womb. He breathed life into us. As He knit us, He intricately sewed pieces of gifts, talents, desires, abilities etc into our fabric. Each strand of DNA is from Him, on purpose for the exact season and time in history we’d be born into. Some He gave the ability to be writers, some trainers, others scholars, still others judges, lawyers, teachers, and on and on. 

Did you also know? 

The family you were born into has much to do with the vision He has for you. Their talents and abilities and blessings are meant for you to build on and nurture so that in your season they can be once again reestablished or realized. Even your height, your build, your voice, your structure all matters for the vision He has for you. The very city and land you were born on have incredible significance. And if you want to get really deep, the date in your birthdays falls is important. For example, I was born in 1973, coincidentally the exact same year Roe v Wade was established. Was born into a time when babies would by law, be taken from the womb should the mother decide this to be ideal. Millions of my would be generation would never see the light of day. The timing is not lost on me and I pray your birth year and date would not lose significance for you either. 

Finding Your Vision 

Maybe you agree and understand that we all have a calling and purpose, so much so that you could recite ever sermon you ever heard on the subject. Yet in your own life, you have never found it. 

Perhaps you have bounce from job to job, career to career because maybe, just maybe this will help you find that nichè. 

Or is it possible that you heard all your life a woman was meant to raise the kids and take care of her husband, and when the kids grow, she might could consider a little job somewhere. 

As man, did you hear that you need a good job, making good money so that you can support a good family and create a good life for your self? 

Whatever the case may be, let’s begin to see the idea of vision from a truthful perspective and hopefully set you on a path to finding yours. 

Digging In

When it comes to finding what the Lord has for us, we must pause and ask some pointed questions.

Think back to what you were like as a child.

  • What did you enjoy? Hobbies, sports, activities and past times.
  • Think about when you were a young adult, what interests did you have then?
  • What did you excel at?
  • What was the catalyst that caused you to stop doing those things? What shifted for you?

The Word of God says in Habbakuk 2:2 “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.“

There are two things to note here. Number one, we are to write the vision and number two we need to write it so big that even someone who is running past would be able to see it. I love how there is an assumption here that we would have a vision.

Just in case you are wondering if this word is for you, the answer is yes. All of scripture is a blueprint for our lives. We are meant to do the Word of God, not just read it and memorize it. So that we keep with the having two or three witnesses to make it a truth for us, we see in Proverbs 29:18, “Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!” YLT

Other translations state that the people run wild or cast off restraint. Isn’t it interesting when you think of those who have gone through a midlife crisis? Could it be that person was never shown the vision God had for them so they went their own way and when they finally came to the end of themselves, they ran wild?

We must write the vision down. What God tells us in the secret place, we write it down so that we can pray into it, call it forth, grow in that area of our walk and run!

If you knew the vision and yet lost it, know this- a setback does not mean the vision isn’t for you anymore. The gifts and callings of God are irrevocable! Meaning, the gifts and calling He gave you are not able to be changed, reversed, they are final. He made you specifically with a vision in mind that you would love doing. If you never stepped into the vision because it was squashed out of you, it’s still yours for the taking. This is not the time to make excuse on why you never did something that you truly love. This is also not the time to blame your family of origin, or a spouse, or whoever stamped it out of you. This is the time to take the truth of God, His gifts, His callings are not to ever be changed. In addition, if you do not ever step in then there is a void in the fabric of history. It’s not like someone else will come along in your generation and do what only you could. Maybe your children will, if they catch a fresh revelation from God, but how much better is it to have had you step up and build a foundation for them to draft in?

First and foremost, God made you because He loves you. If you never realize the vision, He still loves you just as much. You are still welcomed into His kingdom if you’ve said yes to His Son. But to not discover His vision is like our children having a treasure in their bedroom growing up, yet never opening it. And that treasure would contain resources to live on, maps showing them to a world that was the most thrilling place- suited for them and others made like them.

Remember, it’s never too late.

It’s never too late to pick up again and start fresh.

It’s never too late to find your vision for the first time.

Moses was 80 when he went back to Egypt, he was very likely never meant to leave in the first place. he killed someone. It short, he had majorly messed up. But when it was time, God pulled him back, God used him in mighty ways. God didn’t raise up another deliverer, He wouldn’t back down even when Moses argued with Him. God wanted Moses and no one else would do.

Friend, God wants you and no one else will do.

It’s never too late to receive a fresh vision and finish the work God began in you. He is faithful and desires to finish it, you are totally and completely equipped for it. In fact, you have likely been training for this your whole life.

You must not quit, and you must press on when you get the revelation that the vision was lost.

On Monday, Septemeber 26th, we hosted a class on helaing our vision. If you are more of an auditory learner, I invite you to listen in and gain some fresh insight share here.

The LORD is My Peace

Posted on by Jen Weir

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” Psalm 23:2

We’re in the middle-isa of a series in which I am walking us through Psalm 23 from the view of God’s covenant names. If you missed our first post, you can read about it here. In addition to starting the series, I share there about what it means to make a covenant. I would be remiss if I didn’t share what it means to be in a covenant, however. In a covenant agreement typically it is an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or perhaps not do something that is specified in the agreement. In the case of marriage, let’s say, the couple covenants to honor, love and be faithful to one another until death separates them. On a different vein, a covenant can also be a business deal- one promises to pay a certain amount by a certain or the other party has the legal and binding right to take a specific agreed upon action to get their money back.

With the Lord, and within the gospel, a covenant means a sacred agreement or mutual promise between God and a person or a group of people- those who believe on His Son, Jesus, in the case of the new covenant. When God made the covenant, He set the terms, He made the promises and we simply agreed with Him. If we are in covenant with Him, we get the blessings He has promised us. If He doesn’t give those blessings then He breaks His covenant promise with us, which God could never do. If we are not seeing the promises in our lives, the problem lies with us, not God on account of He made a promise to us that if we obey Him and His word, we will experience those promises.

In our walks with the LORD it is important to understand what is covenant and what it means to be in covenant because really, most do not experience the blessings and goodies in Jesus because they do not realize who they are what they have in Jesus. It is not realized simply because most cannot get out of their own emotions (the soul) to see and receive them.

Psalm 23:2 describe yet another one of God’s covenant names, YHWH Shalom, the LORD is Peace.

Peace is one of the goodies promised in Jesus as our right and privilege of being in covenant with God. He made us a promise that if we follow His ways we would be led to green pastures and quiet still waters. When storms spring up in life, can I tell you, it is not our God. Goodness, we are called sheep in the Word of God and have you ever seen a sheep stay anywhere near a place that is as tumultuous as rushing and stormy water? The LORD our Peace offers a resting place for us to experience His luxurious love. A good shepherd knows where ti pasture his flock, a perfect Shepherd knows even better. The green pastures spoken of here in the Psalm would be a stunning resting place, free from all fear. The Hebrew word for quiet waters is מְנוּחָה (menuha), or literally, the waters of a resting place.

This idea of the waters of a resting place reminds me of the woods in Massachusetts in the Winter. Many hiking areas on the East Coast also have lakes and little rushing rivers flowing in and around them. During the Winter however they are either dried up or completely frozen over. The stillness of the waters underneath the ice is incredible. A once rushing river of waters has been forced to quiet down for a season.

Make a Great Dash

Posted on by Jen Weir

The little line between the point of your birth and the day you finish and go Home to the Lord, that is your dash. Are you making it great?

When I first became a believer it was at a youth camp. I wasn’t a camper, I was a counselor. I did not truly know the Lord, but rather I was a Cino (pronounced chino), a Christian in name only. No fruit, zero lifestyle change and really to look at me no one would have thought I believed in God. My friend needed a warm body and having nothing else to do that Summer so I said “sure thing!”. A free trip to the mountains in So Cal, um, yes please! Truly God had different plans for me. At that camp a man named Rick Countryman spoke arguably one of the most memorable sermons I have yet to hear. The Lord has used sermons and preacher’s TedTalks to impact me, but none to the degree this guy’s did. It was titled ‘How to create a great dash’. The dash being that little space between when you’re born and when you step over into heaven for eternity. For the last twenty six years that title has rolled in my mind over and over. I often ask myself, “how’s the dash looking?” and with the death of my husband last Summer, the idea of what will my earthly life look like once it’s finished has hurdled to the forefront of my mind.

There was a time in my life I thought leaving an impact on the world was of utmost importance. You know how the world says to leave a legacy now. Make a mark, leave the world better, etc. I now would argue against that. Leaving an impact can veer treacherously off to the self serving side of the road. Having fallen a number of times into a pride, arrogance and yes, self centered ditch far too many times, I do my level best to steer clear of that one, thank you very much. Leaving a legacy is less about those around you and more about yourself. Otherwise you’d be helping others around you create and impact. There’s a massive difference though few can see it.


I recently celebrated my 49th birthday and the idea of my dash came screeching to the front of my mind yet again. My “new year” begins the day of my birth every year. For most of the world their “New Year” begins on January 1, but for me, I have often considered my birthday to be my fresh start of sorts, should I need one. At minimum I prayerfully consider the path I’m on, goals, whether physical, emotion or spiritual and how I might need to course correct for the next 365 days. This year was a little different than the past 22 birthdays because this was my first as a widow. That whole thing is still relatively new and I am still figuring out how to maneuver through it all, but this birthday was a splendid opportunity to lay down some goals, vision cast with the Lord and ask Him to once again course correct my life. As an aside, this is also the time I do a major soul check in. On the Hebrew calendar my birthday falls during the month of Iyar, which is a time of the year the Lord reveals, deals and heals the emotion body- I am always happy to step into His perfect timing and ways. This birthday I was more than happy to give Him the space to swoop in with some Holy Spirit refreshing and restoring of my broken emotions. Needless to say by the end of the month I smelled like a stunning apothecary of emotional wellness having used an insane amount of essential oils to assist the more stubborn negative emotions.

Making a great dash is rarely about leaving a legacy and more about doing the work God prepared in advance for you to do. Though the legacy part can and many times after does accompany a great dash, if that is the focus, we can go wildly off course. Psalm 139 says each of us have a book written about us, and Galatians says there are works prepared in advance for us to do. Yet so many of us are like hamsters on a stupid wheel doing someone else’ work and someone else’s book. Few know their calling and fewer still know how they are divinely wired in order to accomplish the purposes in their lives God means for them. The world is more than happy to offer ridiculous personality tests to guide you in the way they feel is best. You can find out anything about yourself from what number you are (really, we are reducing ourselves to a number?), to what color we are, and even what kind of cheese we might be. (thank you Facebook) I am mozzarella in case you’re wondering…The Church at large has done an incredibly poor job of equipping saints in their gifts and callings, but rather they are more than happy to post announcements about helping in childcare because after all, that’s the greatest need. Be that as it may, if you are not divinely designed to help and lead children, you have zero business helping in a kids’ ministry. No matter how great the need. Yet if you are gifted and called to writing, speaking or scrubbing floors, unless there is a job in any of those, you have no business doing anything else. It’s like this. Imagine if you worked at a restaurant as a waiter or waitress. Imagine that you saw the orders piling up on account the place being swamped for the Sunday crowds and so you decided to help cook the orders. What do you suppose your boss would say? If you were not fired on the spot you’d at minimum get a stern talking to. Why then do we assume we must step up and fill in for a perceived need in a church or even work setting? If you are not a cook, don’t go to the kitchen and start cooking. That’s a dumb idea. If you are not a server, do not start attempting to take orders for customers. Also, a dumb idea. Likewise, if you are not designed to be a doctor, lawyer, accountant or teacher, do not go to school to become one only because momma, daddy, grandma, grandpa or uncle Freddy want you to. If you are not equipped and made to do that, you are doing someone else’s job. And, you’re making a horrible likely fruitless dash. Do what you are divinely designed to do. Always and only.

Your dash, my dash, they are all incredibly different. And no one can tell you what yours is except God Himself, because He is the One who created it for you. This is a hard one for me because I have this gift of seeing people’s callings in like 5 minutes of meeting them and about 80% of people I know are not in fact, doing the thing they are meant for. Worse yet, the kids I know, about the same amount are headed to college, are in college or doing a job solely based on the level of income it will produce. I weep thinking of songs never sung, books never written, paintings never seen or inventions never realized all because we never knew what we were created to do. Sadly many folks never step into their calling because of wounds from childhood and false beliefs. Gee, it’s no wonder kids today don’t even identify as who they were born as.


Dashes are powerful when you think of it. Leaving a legacy, while seemingly noble, can dissolve into utter rubbish when broken down. If one is only thinking of leaving a mark, that leaves out quite a lot of opportunities because who says something is a legacy? No one who left a great legacy set out to leave a legacy, you know? Pretty sure Harriet Tubman never said, I’m going to be one of the greatest people ever known and leave a great legacy of freedom fighters. What she did do what rescue slaves and shuttle them to safety. She saw something worth fighting for, she did what she was born to do. Conversely, there are dozens and dozens of people who made her job possible. Only through their efforts was Ms. Tubman successful. Did they leave a legacy? Not a bit, because you and I do not even know their names. But did they fulfill at least a portion of their purpose, you can bet on that. Anne Frank. As a thirteen year old Jew, she likely wasn’t thinking about leaving a legacy or time capsule for future generations. Quite the opposite if you’d read her diary. She was a typically teenager- self focused, self serving and frankly, quite a whiner. But her unintentional book has stunned million and impacted an untold number of people. That is a great dash. And, that is a legacy left unintentionally.

When my husband died it was tricky to see my purpose anymore. Not because he was my whole life, far from it. In fact, that was a sticking point in our marriage. I had heard Rick Countryman’s talk, my husband had not. My husband was rarely moved to do the thing God called him to. He was an incredible artist, powerfully so and did little with it because he was told as a young man “there’s no money in art. That’s not really a career choice.” Parents often do a lot of damage to their kids without knowing, all because they think in terms of “good living”. For me, making sure everyday was on point with my purpose was critical, that is hard in a marriage when only one thinks that way. I was raised with a grandpa that said “it doesn’t matter if you’re picking fly poop out of pepper, as long as you’re happy doing it, go for it.” An he meant it. And my mom thought the same. Not really encouraging me to do my dash great, but it didn’t stick in the hamster cage either. Seeing my purpose was tricky because of tremendous grief and belief problems I wrestled with after losing my husband. Watching my kids grieve their dad is unbearable at times. When you become a widow at an early age all of a sudden everything you believed gets question by your own mind and consequently for me, so did my calling. My new year/birthday helped right that.

When you think about your dash, what comes to mind? Is it great? Are you doing what you were designed to do? Do you even know what you were designed for? I’ll give you a hint, it rarely has to do with how you make an income. I love when people ask what I do. I now respond with, “are you asking how I make money? Because what I do and how I make money are vastly different”. It tickles me to see the look on their faces as it does either two things- ones, gives them the hint that asking me how I earn a living is grossly inappropriate and none of their business, so they shut it. Or two, ask me for further info on what I really do, which opens a whole world of healing for them personally- since that, is in fact one of my purposes in my life. Seeing people set free and healed emotionally is a stunning part of my dash. There are many more aspects to it, but that is one of my favorites. Friend, don’t go another day without evaluating your dash, you don’t know how long it it. My husband’s was only 55 years. Oh and, it’s never too late to begin making it a great dash. Oh and if you want to utilize my gift of seeing what your designed to do, you know where to find me.