Monday, July 16, 2012

For such a time as this.....

I was just listening to one of my favorite Wayne Watson song's "For such a Time as This."

 

It made me think about the losses in our world this year and my own life these past 6 months and the fact that we are all only here for a very specific time in space in this universe. In the last 6 months, I lost both my Mom and my Dad, and it's really made me think about the limited amount of time that any of us has. What we do with that time is totally up to us. So, I ask you---What are you doing with your time on earth? Have you found your real purpose??

We are all only here for such a very brief period, some shorter than others. Finding your true purpose can be hard and for some people, it's a never ending and non-achievable task. We're born,we live our lives, most of us have our children and then we die. That is the usual course that the majority of society takes. Traditionally, having your children as your legacy or the work we do while we're here are how people remember us. Don't get me wrong. Having a legacy with your children is a wonderful thing. but is that all there is? Some people focus their lives on their work, spending endless hours working to build a company or name brand, but to what end? Is that what life is all about? There's gotta be more, right?

Some folks spend their entire lives searching for their purpose in life. They search high and low looking for their inner peace trying to figure out what they are doing here in the first place. They're always chasing it, always looking, always searching, but it seems to elude them. 
                                Just like this hourglass, we all have a certain amount on time on earth~


What is life and why are we here anyway? That is life's big question after all, isn't it? Why are we here? Unfortunately, I think many will search and never find the answer to that question because they are looking in all the wrong places. There has to be a reason we were put on this earth to live out our days, but where do you find the answer to that elusive question? 
                                           Our Family is a wonderful legacy, but is that all there is?
                                                            Our son Eric's wedding 9/24/11


You can find that answer in the Word of God. Matthew 7:7-9 says "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." If you want to find the answers to your questions about life, seek that One that Created it in the first place! 


I believe we were created for His pleasure. I believe that our purpose is to serve the Lord with all our heart and soul while we reside on this earth. I believe that our purpose is to spread the love of God to everyone we meet. To me, it's that simple. We were made by Him, for Him. All the rest just fades away. Our job is to walk obediently in His truth and love,and show others the way. God made this earth and everything in it. Psalm 24:1 tells us "The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it." Once you accept that simple truth you are on your way! It all belongs to Him and we are just here the specific amount of time that He desires. Your time is limited, so better make the most of it.
                                                                 Pick up your Bible and Read - 
                                                       It has all the answers you are searching for~~


We all have spiritual gifts that the Lord gives us such as musical and artistic gifts, organizational and business sense, teaching, evangelism, the gift of being a servant and helping others, like being a doctor or a nurse, athletic gifts and a thousands different other ones. We all have certain talents that have been graciously bestowed upon us by our Heavenly Father. Once you identify what your spiritual gift is, the best way to serve the Lord and spread His love is to use your spiritual gift doing just that. Take your passion for life and use it to further the Kingdom of God. That is the only thing that will bring you true happiness and peace.

So, I ask you again? What will you be remembered for? What will your impact be on the world or on the lives of others around you? Every single person has to start somewhere. As the generations pass from one to the other, and the older generation fades away, we find, we are all the ones left standing and carrying the ball, as they say. You can spend your life searching for your dream or purpose, or you can come home to the One who will fill that hole in your heart and help you find your place in this world.

I find that it's so true that the older you get, the more clearly you see things, and the more everything comes into focus. At least that has been the truth for me. The older I get, the more I realize that my purpose all along as been to serve the Lord without any doubt or shamefulness. In the early days of my life I ran from it, because I was too busy just having fun and doing things my way. I tried to go around it, but the Lord had His Hand on me and kept pulling me back. 


As my life has moved on, I'm beginning to realize that my true purpose is going to be about Him, not me. That's what I'm here for. I'm here to spread the Good News about Jesus and His love. It's clear as a bell to me now. It took me a while to realize it and accept it, but I now know what my purpose is and I have tremendous peace because of it.
          I love to post pictures like this on Facebook for the world to see!
                             
These days I spend much of my time spreading the love of God through the internet and Facebook specifically. Writing this blog, posting encouraging words, phrases and pictures to online friends and family I've met. It's amazing how much people are truly hurting. They are just looking for someone to reach out to them. The internet is a wonderful way to reach people who are shut ins and cannot even get out of their own home. You can touch their soul with a soft word, it is really amazing. I truly feel so blessed to be able to do that and to have the time to do that. I know that is a real blessing from the Lord and I take it as a real responsibility to help others learn about the Lord, and it is one that I don't take lightly.

Even though I've been living with MS for over 20 years now and have been out on disability for over 12 years, I count myself blessed beyond words. That might sound strange to some people, but even though I've been living with a chronic disease that has progressed over the years and debilitated me in many ways, I am still able to use my mind, and I plan on doing that as long as I have breath in me.

                                                 Me, Mom and Dad in summer 2009. I miss them so~


I sure do wish my Mom and Dad were here so I could sit down and talk to them about God and His faithfulness. I wish I had one more time to tell Pop how thankful I am that he taught me about Jesus and brought His love into my life. My Dad is the one that instilled my strong faith in God at an early age and my Mom reinforced it. They watched me blossom over the years, stretching my wings and relying more on the Lord than I ever thought possible. Especially when I got sick and they thought I had brain cancer. If I hadn't known the Lord during that time, I don't think I would have made it through. Jesus and His strength and love are what gave me the courage to face those terrifying days.

So, thanks Mom and Dad, I think I'm finally starting to get it. I've found my true purpose in life. I've finally figured it out. I realize that the Lord put me here for such a time as this and I will do His will until I draw my last breath.

My verses for today are above in red.

My prayer for today:

Dear Heavenly Father:

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness. Thank you that you give us the time and space to figure it all out while waiting patiently in the wings. Thank you for my Godly parents, who taught me about you at an early age. Help me Lord to continue to do Your work and help others to learn about you for my time on this earth.


In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen