About Me - Ardent Purpose

My Purpose

My name is Charlene Stoudt. I am a wife and working mother who also happens to love the Lord. Knowing that my purpose is to glorify God has kept me grounded and made so many potentially difficult decisions much simpler, if not always easier. Discovering the path to better fulfill that purpose has been a wonderful and continuously unfolding adventure!

I’ve heard that, sometimes, good things take time…

Purpose was something I could pin down. THAT was the easy part.. Discovering my path to fulfilling it has been more of a moving target. Like our faith in Christ, discovering our path can grow, change and mature as we do. I have always been clear on knowing my purpose. Discovering my path and fulfilling it has been much more fluid.

Pursuing The Path For My Purpose

I often said If I could make a living encouraging people in the Lord, then THAT would be my dream job.

While I have always had plentiful opportunities to be an encourager in my life, the idea of making it a living never really seemed like a serious option. Mainly because I never explored it with intentionality or honestly considered it as a path intended for fulfilling my purpose. I had always considered it as only an option for pastors or spiritual leaders, not a layperson like myself. For whatever reason, I had never challenged that belief.

So, I went about my life like so many of us. I served the Lord where opportunity arose, was a responsible citizen in society and earned an income to help provide for myself and my family. I lived within the conformity that I was raised to believe was expected of me and never truly questioned anything outside of that.

And I was quite happy. Though, if I am to be completely honest, I have a positive and generally happy disposition. I have always been pretty resilient in the face of adversity. Yes. I’m one of those “glass half full” people. Actually, I’m one of those “just happy to have a glass” type of people! Now, with Christ in my life, living out an attitude of gratitude daily is practically compulsory.

A Chance On Change

I didn’t grow up with the benefits of having the admonition of the Lord as a foundation in my home. Having come to know Christ in my mid-twenties, I had made plenty of poor decisions both before and after giving my life to Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Fortunately, God is patient, loving, longsuffering and COMPLETELY trustworthy. It took a multitude of trials and triumphs to get me to where I am today and He is far from finished building my character, I’m sure! I can say with honesty, I am greatful for every lesson learned. Even the painful ones.

Two Transforming Verses

While I haven’t always loved the growing pains, since giving my life to Christ, I have always loved the Word of God. With nothing but blank pages before inviting Christ into my heart, God’s Word become my new obsession that I couldn’t get enough of, even to this day.

One of the first verses I hid in my heart early on is this:

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV

While we are not meant to understand all of the secret things of God, He has given us MORE than enough through His Word and His indwelling Spirit to navigate our purpose.

Another beloved verse is this:

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4 KJV

Every moment I submit to Him, the Lord conforms my wants and desires closer to His own. I may still have a long way to go, but the longer we walk together the more true this verse becomes for me.

There are many other such impactful verses of course, but these are two I return to over and over.

Continuing To Discover My Path

Slowly but surely, God has moved me in the direction I need to go to get out of my conformity and ingrained expectations. My limitations really. I understand that if God is leading me, even something that seems extraordinary doesn’t mean it’s unattainable. The more I understand how it is less about my limitations and more about His abundance, the farther out I have become able and willing to stretch my faith muscles.

One day, while out to brunch with my family, one of the portraits on the wall of the café caught my attention. For three years it hovered in the back of my mind, fluttering in and out of my thoughts. It was one of those inspiring word portraits about having hope, loving much, laughing often, being grateful, being kind, being content…but it was the very first line that stuck – Dream Big. I was able to tick off all the boxes for everything on that portrait – except that. Dream Big. I didn’t even have a dream, let alone a BIG dream.

I was happy and content and, I can even say, fulfilled in my role as wife and mother. Living out my purpose where I was. I have always tried to glorify God in my home and work life to the best that I have been able to in the opportunities that I have been given. But, as is God’s way, that seed was planted and three years later the calling to use my gifts in a more impactful way came. And so began this wonderful new journey of trust and faith and a new depth of fulfillment I never expected.