Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Purpose

Another Tuesday, another post about our sermon series Grace.  Can you tell that I am loving this series!?!  

As a recap, our church is in the midst of a 6 week sermon series called Grace.  The series focuses on the first 10 verses of Ephesians 2.  This week we kinda parked on verse 10.  



  At our campus, Pastor Paul McDill spoke to us about God's purpose for our lives.  He shared 3 truths that come from the verses.  They were so spot on and spoke to me that I took out my phone and snapped a picture.  I can testify to these truths!

this is a picture of the slide at church
I have felt for many years that God wanted to use me but I had no idea how.  I had a great idea of how I wanted me life to go.  I knew my end game and I knew all the steps I needed to take to get there.  Then, God showed me that I had the wrong end game.  It was heartbreaking.  I thought I had known exactly what I was going to be when I grew up and after one 20 minute meeting I was back to square one.  

The next year was miserable.  I was depressed and floundering.  I sought advice but it all fell flat.  When nothing worked, I finally called out to God.  I asked Him to show me what to do.  I had been a Christian many many years by this point but I was in the habit of deciding what I wanted to do then asking God to bless it.  

I began to spend time with God and in His word.  I asked for guidance.  I worked hard to listen.  I sensed God moving me in a different direction.  About 9 months in, I committed to obedience.  I would do what God lead me to do.  

Right now, I spending a lot of time on truth 3.  Lots of things don't make sense.  I struggle.  I have a good sense of what God is calling me to do but I don't know how to make it happen.  So I just do the next thing I'm asked.  I'm so not good at waiting and not knowing.  This can be a daily, hourly struggle to trust the LORD.  

I know that my purpose is to take what I'm learning about God and use it to make much of Him.  Actually, I think that's your purpose too, if you're a believer.  God has use do these things in different ways.  Your purpose may involve selling cars while making much of Him.  

I believe that God wants me to take what I'm learning about Him and educate others. I believe that He wants me speak into the lives of moms and encourage them. I believe that He wants to use B to bring acceptace of Autism and increase the faith of autistic people and their families. I believe He wants me to write and speak on these topics.

I have no idea how God is going to accomplish all this.  But that's not my part.  That's God's part.  And He is God and I am not.  My part is to be obedient.  

Pastor Paul closed with this 4 reasons we don't walk in our purpose. They all spoke to me as well.  Especially number 4.  Satan can do a number on me. 

"Only x number of people read that post.  How do you think God is going to use your writing. No one reads it."

"You really stink at mothering.  God will never be able to use your testamony to encourage other moms."

"No one will ever want you to speak to their group."

When that happens I run back to the LORD.  He is the truth.  This is His plan, not mine.  So I take the next step.  I write another post and hit publish.  I read another book.  I pray again.  I ask for guidance and the strength to be obedient.  

What's your purpose? How has God asked to further His work?  What's keeping you from it?  How can we help and encourage each other?

You can get the cLife app here so you'll have access to videos of the entire Grace series.  iOS or  Google Play

No comments :