I’m sure you noticed.  (maybe not) Yesterday, there wasn’t a blog and didn’t send an e-mail.  Why?  Simple, I read the Proverb a couple of times and to be honest I had nothing to say.  I started writing and nothing came through the typing.  I prayed and looked at the verses again and, empty, nothing came out.  What I am trying to say is, don’t beat yourself up.  I’m sure many of you have missed a couple days of reading and writing.  If you haven’t started writing yet, writing what God speaks to you is a powerful experience.  Don’t worry, you never have to share a word with anyone if you don’t want.  But I encourage you, if you haven’t started, we are only half way through the month.  Remember, it isn’t how cool it sounds or even about the punctuation and spelling, its about you and Jesus, one on one, him speaking to you, so here goes DAY 16, Hopefully I will see you at the Preview service tomorrow 10 am AMC 24

Title: Engaging Life Purpose

Scripture Read: Proverbs 16

Key Verse:  “The LORD works out everything for his own ends.“ Proverbs 16:4

Observations:

It is Jesus’ perfect will that is being accomplished in this world, nothing more and nothing less.  He is the one who put the Earth, Sun, Moon and stars in their places.  He is the one who was there when I was born.  There I was May twenty-five 1975, 9:29 am, feeble little unimportant me.  I was helpless.  Born into a crooked and depraved world.  I deserved nothing from Jesus.  I didn’t do anything that turned his head and I am nothing great to look at (although my wife thinks I am rather hot).  What I am trying to say is this; it is refreshing to not have to try and live my purpose for my life!  It is refreshing to live His purposes for my life.  It takes the pressure off.  Jesus thinks highly of me.  He doesn’t look at me with scornful eyes, he looks at me and says, “you are forgiven, my son, my most prized possession of all the creation.”  That gives me purpose.  He is worth living for.  I see that it is His end that the LORD works for.  No one has God on a string.  Jesus goes before me and fights my battles, (vs. 7) and he determines my steps. (vs. 9)

Applications:

Why do I even bother living on purpose?  Here are three reasons I choose to live on according to his purposes.

#1 Purpose gives vision – Where there is no vision the people perish.  When I answer the question, what is the purpose for my life, vision flows like an open spring.  It stimulates motivation.  I understand emphatically that one purpose for my life is to get restored to Jesus.  I start to see myself as Jesus sees me and man is that motivating.  It is his love for me.  God just wants to be with me.

#2 Purpose gives a plan – When I get a God given vision, Jesus gives me a plan.  He inspires specific action steps to get me where he wants me to go.  He breaks me down and builds me up through discipline and focus.  He starts to open up specific pathways to the plan he has called me to.  Sitting back and doing nothing is not an option.  He requires me to get to work on the plan and he gives me wise people around me to help get me where he is calling me.  (Prov 15:22, there, I just redeemed yesterday)

#3 Purpose focuses our priorities – How do I spend my time?  It needs to be focused and intentional.  Intentional living creates pathways to progress. Maybe you find yourself scattered? It’s time to live by a schedule and get real about expectations and then communicate them to someone who can hold you accountable.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to have strength through your Holy Spirit to live your purposes for my life. Help me to yield in my relationship with you, help me to encourage and build up the body of Christ and help me to serve and be desperate for people to come to you.

Burning Questions:

How can you cultivate deeper purpose in each of these relationships?  What is one tangible thing you will do in each relationship listed below?

-With Jesus?

-With those who know Jesus?

-With those who haven’t decided to follow Jesus yet?