I'm coming back

I have not published on my blog in a long time, no excuses, I just haven't.  Life happens so quickly and so many things happen in a day that it all blurs together.

I still write and send out via email, and sometimes on facebook, but not on my blog.  I hope to share what I write more this year in this media outlet.  For those still looking for me, thank you.  I appreciate your prayers and support as I share the daily struggles and encouragement I try to offer.

Blessings
Teresa

What is Your Purpose

January 8, 2020

My Devotion

My Heart

What is Your Purpose?

Teresa Jenkins

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of His mighty strength.  Ephesians 1:17-19

“I find no pleasure” (was my mother’s substitute for saying “I hate _____.”) in this question that comes around at the midnight strike of January 1 and continues to haunt me several times through the year.  Purpose, that word sends me into doubt and fear because my definition of purpose means something I’m supposed to be doing.  My feeble understanding of purpose is an assignment, it’s used in Bible lessons, sermons, and counseling sessions and that word seems to be everywhere this time of year.  I want to know my purpose; I want to be what God created me to do.    

The dictionary definition: (noun) the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.  Which leads me to another question.  “Why was I created?”  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10. I look at God’s workmanship all around me and think to myself, God still made me? 

The age of technology has succeeded to show me just how significant I am.  Have you ever searched your location on a map website?  You can zoom in really close and see your street and even the lot on which your house is built.  When you zoom out your “space” on earth quickly disappears.  Suddenly, individually we amount to a microscopic size on a map.  Still Ephesians 2:10 says you and I were created to do good works, that He prepared in advance, before He created us.  Psalm139 goes into great detail of our significance to God, there is no where we can go that He is not already there with you and with me and with every other person.  We are all God’s workmanship and He had and still has a plan.

We have no clue, really to the significance of our existence, but one day we will see as we are seen.  Paul describes it as looking at a dim reflection in a mirror, we cannot see exactly what God is doing through our life.  Every day we have a purpose…some are more significant in the eyes of the world, but every thing we do affects the space in which we are.  My problem with the idea of purpose, I see it through the comparison mirror of what I see others doing. 

From my perspective, I don’t see much change or influence that I have.  Most likely when I get to heaven, I’m going to be shocked when Jesus tells me the good things that happened because of me.  Satan wants me to fear going to heaven because of that part of judgment when God points out all the things I did wrong or the things I didn’t do.  That’s His tool to shut me up, making me believe that God’s vengeance is going to be pointed at me for my mistakes that led people astray, or that I wasn’t a better mother to my children, or that … the doubts and fears run rampant in me holding me back from living the faith that I am a child of God, yes I will make mistakes, I will do things wrong, but Jesus is my advocate, He sits by the Father’s right hand interceding for me.  Though I’m peeking through the window of the “twilight” years of life, as long as there is breath in me God’s purpose for me will prevail.

So, as this year proceeds, and the question, “What is my purpose?” rolls through your mind occasionally, the answer is quite simple.  Live in such a way that when people see you, they see Jesus. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Mark 6:33  Speak the truth in love.  Smile. Be friendly.  Be helpful.  Give generously.  At every opportunity, share Jesus.

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today.  I know that He is living no matter what men say. I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer and just the time I need Him He’s always near.  He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!  He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.  He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!  You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.  (by Homer A Rodeheaver, 1933)