//We All Have a Unique Purpose, and it will look so different//

Emily Freeman said it so well:

'Uncovering your art does not mean you will find only rainbows & sunshine to pour out on everyone around you. Uncovering your art is about uncovering what is really there within you, coming face-to-face with your profound capacity for beauty as well as sin, your deepest dreams and your longing for God. 

You are capable of glory-grasping and it might get ugly.

But you are designed to reflect the glory of God, and when you release the fullness of who you most deeply are, we will see God because we are finally seeing you.'

(Emily Freeman, A Million Little Ways, p.36)

The Lord has been slowly wrecking me this month, He knew I would preorder a copy of Emily Freeman's new book A Million Little Ways. He also knew that it would release the day I started this series, that I would have finished my previous books and have time to read it the day it arrived in the mail. That is would speak truth to my heart about these very answers I was asking and puzzled about. 

In the wrecking, there has been healing.

While piecing together the pieces which consist of all these passions I have found, deep in my heart & DNA, my abilities and my dreams, may not be clear....I have seen truth. 

There may not be one great thing I am made to do.

But there is one great God I am made to glorify in whatever I do.

That is the big picture. 

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

(Genesis 1:27) 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

(Revelation 3:20)

The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

(Jeremiah 31:3)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

(Psalm 84:11)

We are made in God's image, for the purpose of being in relationship with Him, to reflect His glory! 

My life does have great purpose (& so does yours!) but we are never told in scripture that we will know exactly what our God-given purpose is. But we are told that God knows the specific plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). In His grace, we may see what our purpose is but we are not promised that. 



But I am know that I am made to glorify Him.



Just like you are.



And the way you do that will look very different to the way I do it! For we are all gifted in so many different ways. 

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

//Sharing the Journey//

Friends! I can't believe that the month of October is coming to a close. As relieved as I will be to go back into some freedom in how frequently I write in this little space, part of me will be extremely sorry to see this series end. To see the daily diligence of having to wade through the mess. I hope its a habit I continue to do actually.


I don't know that I could explain in just a few words for each of the next four days, just how much the Lord has been teaching me and showing me in this area of life. This series has just had me see event after event in how the Lord gave me this topic, and then through books, sermons, friends and even my fiction books I have been reading....continued to draw this theme into the month of October. I guess it is my season for now. 

I do feel as though I am coming out of a funk though I will admit. That by seeking my Savior and looking for truth on this, I have felt more alive than I have in quite some time. 
I wanted to share a quote with you I read the other day by Beth Moore because I feel it really sums up the whole purpose of this series. 

'I'm a common woman, sharing common problems seeking common solutions on a journey with an uncommon Savior. If something hurts me, I conclude it probably hurts somebody else too. If something confuses me, I figure it probably confuses someone else. If something helps me, I hope against hope that it might help somebody else. After all, 'no trial has overtaken us that is not faced by others. And God is faithful (1 Cor 10:13).'

These last few days, I want to take some time to share with you some truth. Some things the Lord has revealed to me that I wrote throughout the month but wanted to wait until the end to share. 

I don't know if you have found yourself on a journey of figuring out your purpose this month along with me. Of questioning why you have so many passions in your life and why the Lord hasn't brought opportunities in your path to use them. 

I don't have all the answers, because these are still very much my own questions.

But I hope to share the little wisdom I have gleaned from others and from my sweet Savior during this process.

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

//Fog beginning to clear//

{Via}

I am beginning to feel the Lord speak truth to me about pulling these pieces together, He is graciously giving me glimpse of this greater picture. I am continuing to pray for the ability to communicate all that He has been teaching me and transforming in my heart as I begin to think about closing this series.


Today, these words just hit me like a ton of bricks.


He has plans for us friends, beautiful plans which He orchestrated long ago. And we are His masterpiece. His art. 


I've been thinking on that today. 

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

Welcome Chasers! Discussion on Why We Dream. {A Link Up}

I find myself here. 

It is day five of the kite project and it finds me sitting, pondering, praying, fearing and full of excitement  

It has already gone very differently than I thought it would, and that's ok. 

My plans for completing baby steps to seeing a dream come true have yet to even begin. 

But before I get ahead of myself I want to welcome you guys to the Kite Project! 

(If you don't know what it is then see here first)

A few short months ago the Lord crossed my path with this beautiful woman named Rae, with a beautiful heart for the Lord, dreams and community. 

Since then He has had me on a rollercoaster of growth and emotions as I have wrestled with questions about my dreams, identity and plans He has for my life. 

So coincidence that we met? I think not! 

I really hope that each of you has felt welcomed and a part of this community as we chase alongside one another!

I want to begin a discussion by pondering Why we actually dream.....

Why do we feel that profound sensation about something? A pull towards an idea or dream?

I have no idea what your dream is, maybe the Lord is calling you to be a light for Him in a foreign land, be a songwriter, share your life through writing a book, learn a new skill or own a business.

But whatever you feel that God has deposited in your heart, it has been put there by Him.

He has a purpose for it, because He has a specific perfect plan for you!

'For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

{Jeremiah 29:11} 

I have really wrestled with the issue of understanding how chasing my dreams is really a God thing.

I have searched through scripture because the last thing I want to do is chase something that I want if its not what He wants for me. 

Because I really do have dreams.

Some big ones.

Ones that make me shake because they scare me so much. 

And I've struggled with seeing how these fit with being the best wife I can be, 

supportive of my husband's own dreams,

and the best light for Christ. 

Then because he is amazing, God has revealed Himself to me as I have sought Him with these issues.

Throughout the Bible the Lord reveals himself to his children through dreams and visions.

He revealed the plans He has for Joseph's future in a dream, which lead down a difficult but God-honoring road. (see Genesis 37-50)

I really believe that God reveals himself to us not only in dreams while we sleep, but also visions and dreams we have while awake.

He is not limited to just our sleep state. 

When we fall in love with Jesus and seek Him, we want what He wants.

Our hearts begin to line up with His.

Hearts to see people know Jesus, to see much made of Him.

Then those dreams of adopting a child, shining for Him where we are, using our skills to bring much to His name.

They are all an extension of God bringing glory to Himself, through us!  

And those dreams........

.......those unique scary dreams.

Should be chased! 

Because then we see God furthering His kingdom when we are willing to be used.

And you can guarantee He will do a lot in our own hearts through the mess which happens as we chase our dreams. 

Changing us to be more like Him.

And friends, that mess is beautiful! 

'God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.'

{Ephesians 3:20}

So join us and linkup your thoughts below! 

Lets discuss why we dream.

Much Love! 

L

{All Glorious Within}

Hi wonderful friends! 

So I suppose you are all wondering by now what is going on over here while I have been working for the past 24hrs on changing things and making a mess of links, etc.

I decided that my blog needed a different name as Like Rain was becoming confusing with it's different spellings and use of the period in the name. 

So after I was asked this week what my favorite bible verses, one that I shared was:

'The King's daughter is all glorious within....'

Psalm 45:13

After I wrote this verse among several others, I suddenly thought how wonderful a name like 'All Glorious Within' would be for a blog. 

Then I realised how it fit with what I was currently aiming to do on this blog.

  You may have already seen my explanation in the updated 'About Me' section. 

But if you havn't I shared how I love photography & have a heart for homemaking.

So my desire for this blog is to continue sharing projects for the home which I discover online (or my own), while seeking to encourage others to model after the Proverbs 31 woman.

(Photo Credit: Hannah Cousino, Edited by All Glorious Within)

She is such a wonderful goal for us, christian women. Seemingly impossible at times, but not unobtainable through God's strength (Phil 4:13). 

She truly looks after all the workings of her home, and it is seen as a blessing & God-given role. 

Don't get me wrong, I feel God calls women to roles outside of the home also (e.g. nurse, lawyer, etc). But that the role inside the home is not to be forgotten.

So why the name change?

Well, I felt that Like Rain Inspirations didn't really emphasize the message I was trying to get across.

My aspiration is to be a godly daughter to my King. To seek Him in all that I do.

So for both myself & also my home (based on Proverbs 31) these things should be all glorious within (Psalm 45:13).

I hope this change is clear. I apologize for any obvious incoveniences it causes to button links, news feeds (still working the bugs out on those), etc.

I hope to have them resolved as soon as I can.

With this name change has come the addition of the sponsor page at the top, where I would love to hear from you about doing a button exchange on my blog. 

As well as the addition of the Etsy page. 

(I will feature this in an additional post)

I hope to encourage you whether newly married, married for a while, courting/dating or single and waiting to seek to be all glorious within. As well as to encourage you to seek to create an atmosphere of feminine beauty either in your home, room, dorm room or wherever you live. 

I may not have all the answers, especially in the marriage department, but I am willing to be used and to share what I have learned thus far.

Love to you all this winter evening ladies.
(I will start up my regular posting on Monday)

L