Do you ever wonder what your purpose is?
I hear and read that God has a unique purpose for each of us. Sometimes I wonder what mine is. I am not an author that can influence numerous people through my books or stories. I do not work in ministry, leading others to Christ. I am not an outgoing person who talks easily to strangers. By trade, I am a bookkeeper, balancing accounts and crunching numbers. I sometimes don't even see my clients, the business owners I work for.
I have a nephew who is driven to be a lawyer. He has known for quite some time what he wants to do with his life. On the other hand, I still didn't know what I wanted to do with mine even after I earned my bachelor's degree. I felt this gave me less of a purpose. I believed the world - that you must know what you want and go after it in order to have a purpose.
God gave me an insight today on my way to work - I do have a God-given purpose. My God-given purpose right now is to build up my husband to be the man God wants him to be and to raise our son "...in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" Proverbs 22:6. I don't know why God gave me this insight today, but I felt it very clearly as I drove toward work.
My work is my work - it is not my life. My life is much more important than my work. My work is temporary - the influence I can have in my life can be eternal.
What's your purpose at this time in your life?
In His Grace...
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
My Grandfather's Bible
I discovered on a bookshelf, on a visit home, my Grandfather's bible. It has his name embossed in gold lettering on the leather cover. It is a Revised Standard Version.
My Grandfather has not been here for many years. He passed away when I was about twelve years old. I did not learn much about his faith before he passed.
What a treasure it is to find his bible. To see what he has written on one of the front pages:
"Psalms I like - 1, 8, 15, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 - Teach me thy ways; O Lord; 27 - The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear; 46 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; 48 - Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; 84 - How lovely is thy dwelling place O Lord of Hosts; 90 - Lord Thou has been our dwelling place; 100 - Make a joyful noise to the Lord; 103 - Bless the Lord , O my soul; 118, 121 - I lift up my eyes to the hills; 136, 139, 145"
When I discovered his bible in the shelf, I was new to faith; what an encouragement to see some of my grandfather's favorite verses. To know that there was faith in my family and to feel that link with generations past.
I pray that one day I will see him and my grandmother in heaven.
In His Grace...
My Grandfather has not been here for many years. He passed away when I was about twelve years old. I did not learn much about his faith before he passed.
What a treasure it is to find his bible. To see what he has written on one of the front pages:
"Psalms I like - 1, 8, 15, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 - Teach me thy ways; O Lord; 27 - The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear; 46 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; 48 - Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; 84 - How lovely is thy dwelling place O Lord of Hosts; 90 - Lord Thou has been our dwelling place; 100 - Make a joyful noise to the Lord; 103 - Bless the Lord , O my soul; 118, 121 - I lift up my eyes to the hills; 136, 139, 145"
When I discovered his bible in the shelf, I was new to faith; what an encouragement to see some of my grandfather's favorite verses. To know that there was faith in my family and to feel that link with generations past.
I pray that one day I will see him and my grandmother in heaven.
In His Grace...
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
In everything...give thanks...again
God seems to be giving me the same message over and over again - perhaps I am slow to learn this particular lesson.
I have been re-reading one of my favorite series of books, The Mitford series, by Jan Karon. Here is an excerpt of what I read last night from the book In This Mountain:
"In everything...give thanks."
Father Tim paused and looked at those gathered before him. At Emma Newland...Gene Bolick...Dooley Barlowe...Pauline Leeper...Hope Winchester...Helene Pringle. Around the nave his eyes gazed, drawing them close.
" In everything, give thanks. That's all. That's this morning's message.
" If you believe as I do that Scripture is the inspired Word of God, then we see this not as a random thought or an oddly clever idea of His servant, Paul, but as a loving command issued through the great apostle.
"Generally, Christians understand that giving thanks is good and right.
"Though we don't do it often enough, it's easy to have a grateful heart for food and shelter, love and hope, health and peace. But what about the hard stuff, the stuff that darkens your world and wounds you to the quick? Just what is this everything business?
"It's the hook. It's the key. Everything is the word on which this whole powerful command stands and has its being.
"Please don't misunderstand; the word thanks is crucial. But a deeper spiritual truth, I believe, lies in giving thanks in ...everything.
"In loss of all kinds. In illness. In depression. In grief. In failure. And, of course, in health and peace, success and happiness. In everything.
"There'll be times when you wonder how you can possibly thank Him for something that turns your life upside down; certainly there will be such times for me. Let us, then, at times like these, give thanks on faith alone...obedient, trusting, hoping, believing."
Yes, it is a novel. But what truth it holds.
I realized today that I am at peace with what is going on with our house. I am doing my best to give thanks in everything.
In His Grace...
I have been re-reading one of my favorite series of books, The Mitford series, by Jan Karon. Here is an excerpt of what I read last night from the book In This Mountain:
"In everything...give thanks."
Father Tim paused and looked at those gathered before him. At Emma Newland...Gene Bolick...Dooley Barlowe...Pauline Leeper...Hope Winchester...Helene Pringle. Around the nave his eyes gazed, drawing them close.
" In everything, give thanks. That's all. That's this morning's message.
" If you believe as I do that Scripture is the inspired Word of God, then we see this not as a random thought or an oddly clever idea of His servant, Paul, but as a loving command issued through the great apostle.
"Generally, Christians understand that giving thanks is good and right.
"Though we don't do it often enough, it's easy to have a grateful heart for food and shelter, love and hope, health and peace. But what about the hard stuff, the stuff that darkens your world and wounds you to the quick? Just what is this everything business?
"It's the hook. It's the key. Everything is the word on which this whole powerful command stands and has its being.
"Please don't misunderstand; the word thanks is crucial. But a deeper spiritual truth, I believe, lies in giving thanks in ...everything.
"In loss of all kinds. In illness. In depression. In grief. In failure. And, of course, in health and peace, success and happiness. In everything.
"There'll be times when you wonder how you can possibly thank Him for something that turns your life upside down; certainly there will be such times for me. Let us, then, at times like these, give thanks on faith alone...obedient, trusting, hoping, believing."
Yes, it is a novel. But what truth it holds.
I realized today that I am at peace with what is going on with our house. I am doing my best to give thanks in everything.
In His Grace...
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
In Everything...Give Thanks
"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 RSV
"Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
It is what Thanksgiving is all about. Giving thanks to our creator, our God, our Father. The one that loves us no matter what.
When tempers flare, we are to give thanks.
When arguments abound, we are to give thanks.
When all seems lost, we are to give thanks.
We are to lean on our faith in His goodness, His mercy and His grace so that in ALL things, we can give thanks.
It was a good Thanksgiving, with the usual family drama that occurs in all families.
But we had a lovely weekend.
In His Grace...
"Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
It is what Thanksgiving is all about. Giving thanks to our creator, our God, our Father. The one that loves us no matter what.
When tempers flare, we are to give thanks.
When arguments abound, we are to give thanks.
When all seems lost, we are to give thanks.
We are to lean on our faith in His goodness, His mercy and His grace so that in ALL things, we can give thanks.
It was a good Thanksgiving, with the usual family drama that occurs in all families.
But we had a lovely weekend.
In His Grace...
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!
"Give thanks to the Lord..." 1 Chronicles 16:8
"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving..." Psalm 95:2
"...give thanks to him and praise his name..." Psalm 100:4
"...you are my God, and I will give you thanks..." Psalm 118:28
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever..." Psalm 136:1
"...when he had given thanks, he broke it..." 1 Corinthians 11:24
"...thanks be to God!" 1 Corinthians 15:57
"...by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving..." Philippians 4:6
In His Grace...
"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving..." Psalm 95:2
"...give thanks to him and praise his name..." Psalm 100:4
"...you are my God, and I will give you thanks..." Psalm 118:28
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever..." Psalm 136:1
"...when he had given thanks, he broke it..." 1 Corinthians 11:24
"...thanks be to God!" 1 Corinthians 15:57
"...by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving..." Philippians 4:6
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
And so on this day, I give thanks, to my Creator, my Father, my King.In His Grace...
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Waiting on the Lord
We have some friends...a wonderful couple that we have grown close to. They have been trying for a few years to have a baby.
They are believers.
I don't know their story in detail. But I do know what she told me when she told me she is pregnant.
She said that she had finally come to peace with the idea that she would not have a child of her own. When she had fully put the struggle in the Lord's hands, then she had discovered that she was pregnant.
"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18
This is a couple that waited on the Lord. They did not start going to doctors and trying various fertility solutions, instead they waited on the Lord.
And the Lord was gracious to them...
Now they await the birth of their child...
We are so excited!
In His Grace....
They are believers.
I don't know their story in detail. But I do know what she told me when she told me she is pregnant.
She said that she had finally come to peace with the idea that she would not have a child of her own. When she had fully put the struggle in the Lord's hands, then she had discovered that she was pregnant.
"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18
This is a couple that waited on the Lord. They did not start going to doctors and trying various fertility solutions, instead they waited on the Lord.
And the Lord was gracious to them...
Now they await the birth of their child...
We are so excited!
In His Grace....
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Restored and Renewed
As I've mentioned before, we are in the process of doing a short sale on our house. For those unfamiliar with the term, it means we are trying to sell our house for less than we owe on it. We cannot afford it any longer, and we are waiting to hear if the bank will approve the amount that was offered for it.
As I sat in church on Sunday, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me that there is a reason we will be moving. It is part of Gods plan. It will glorify Him and provide Him with more opportunities to use us to advance His Kingdom.
When we moved to this house we were new to Christian faith. We made mistakes, as all humans, Christian or non-Christian, do. But this has hindered our ability to be used by God. There are those in our current neighborhood that cannot or will not forgive or forget the mistakes we have made. Because of this, we cannot be witnesses to those that are unbelievers that will not forget. So God is moving us...to a new neighborhood...where we can be strong witnesses of God's unending, merciful love.
This is my prayer:
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Psalm 51:10-12
I pray that as we move to a new neighborhood, we will not make the same mistakes we have in the past. We will "Love our neighbors as ourselves" so that we may bring others to know Christ's love.
In His Grace...
As I sat in church on Sunday, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me that there is a reason we will be moving. It is part of Gods plan. It will glorify Him and provide Him with more opportunities to use us to advance His Kingdom.
When we moved to this house we were new to Christian faith. We made mistakes, as all humans, Christian or non-Christian, do. But this has hindered our ability to be used by God. There are those in our current neighborhood that cannot or will not forgive or forget the mistakes we have made. Because of this, we cannot be witnesses to those that are unbelievers that will not forget. So God is moving us...to a new neighborhood...where we can be strong witnesses of God's unending, merciful love.
This is my prayer:
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Psalm 51:10-12
I pray that as we move to a new neighborhood, we will not make the same mistakes we have in the past. We will "Love our neighbors as ourselves" so that we may bring others to know Christ's love.
In His Grace...
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