Religion and Spirituality

Seeking What God Purposes Me To Be

English: The Last Supper of Jesus Christ

Image via Wikipedia

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold for me” (Philippians 3:12).

It is clear from the Scriptures that God wants us to seek after Him. Sometimes we think that the word seeker applies only to people who do not know the Lord and are seeking the answers to life. A believer in Jesus Christ should never come to a place where he or she stops being a seeker.

Being a seeker means that you know God as a reality in your life, yet you are always hungering after a deeper intimacy with Him; being a seeker means that you know His love in your heart, yet you seek to know the fullness of its depth, its height, its width, and its length; being a seeker means that you have set your heart to lay hold of all the things that He purposes you to be.

How do I know God’s purpose for my life?

You were created by God, in His image, for a purpose. The Bible tells us that Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5) and Paul (Galatians 1:15) were set apart from birth for a specific purpose–and you are no different. He has a specific plan for your life.

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declared the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
The Bible says that God’s will is “good, pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

God’s will, first, is that we have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

God wants us to be Christ’s disciples.
This means Christians must themselves commit to following God’s will daily, whatever the cost.
“If anyone would come to me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Related articles

Who are you occupied with?

Are you occupied with Jesus? Most Christians I know would answer in the affirmative, but the truth is; most of the times we are more occupied for Jesus and not occupied with Him. Being occupied with Jesus means spending quality time with Him in prayer–seeking His favor and direction; just like Mary, who sat at His feet attentively while He Ministered to her.

Once upon a time there were two sisters who loved the Lord more than anything else. One named Mary the other named Martha. Mary liked to worship and Martha liked to cook.

The Bible tells us in Luke 10:38-42 that one day: “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was busy in the kitchen preparing food. She became distracted and overwhelmed by all the preparations that had to be made. So she came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Clearly, Martha had her priorities mixed up. She missed the opportunity to occupy herself with the Lord, by choosing the kitchen instead. Believers, do not be like Martha, be like Mary, who had her priorities in order. There is a time for everything under the sun.

Martha in the kitchen, serving with her hands,

Occupied for Jesus with her pots and pans,

Loving him—yet fevered,

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, c. 1597

Image via Wikipedia

Careful, troubled Martha,Burdened to the brim,

Occupied for Him.

Mary on the footstool, eyes upon the Lord,

Occupied with Jesus, drinking in His words,

This the one thing needful, all else strangely dim,

Loving resting Mary

Occupied with Him.

So may we like Mary choose the better part?

Resting in His presence, hands and feet and heart,

Strengthened with His grace,

Waiting for the summons,

Eyes upon His face.

When it comes, we’re ready,

Spirit, will and nerve—

Mary’s heart to worship,

Martha’s hands to serve.

This the rightful order, as our lamps we trim:

Occupied with Jesus—

Then occupied for Him.

Do you have oil in your lamp?

Winter is officially here, but Northeasters have been experiencing winter like weather for close to two months now. It all started in late October, when an unexpected nor’easter dumped several inches of wet heavy snow on the New England states, knocking out power everywhere; causing millions of dollars worth of damage. In Connecticut alone, it costs Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P), well over three hundred million dollars to restore power and do cleanup work.

Everything is back to normal now; just in time for Christmas, thank God, but we all dread what might happen in the coming months. Last winter was the worst in many years and there is no way to tell what this one might bring. Nevertheless, life goes on–one must prepare for the unexpected.

An unexpected snow storm that caught everyone off guard, reminds me of what the Bible says about Jesus’ return. “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord‘s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). And in Matthew 24:36, referring to His return, Jesus told His disciples: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” The scripture is clearly telling us to prepare and be at the ready at all times because Jesus could return at any moment. If we failed to do so, we are likened to the 5 foolish virgins who had no oil in their lamps.

Believers, now is the time to trim our lamps and fill them up with oil. There won’t be time to do so when the bridegroom comes. He will only receive those who are ready to meet him. Luke 21:34, admonishes us to “take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” That’s exactly what happened to the 5 foolish virgins. They knew the bridegroom cometh but they failed to prepare.

We should make sure that we do not make the mistake the 5 foolish virgins made. They went out to get oil for their lamps when the bridegroom arrived but when they returned the door was closed. No doubt those virgins put their salvation on the back burner because they thought they had time. But they were wrong and so could you and I.

Related articles

Merry Christmas Everybody

Merry Christmas everybody! May all your dreams turn to reality this Christmas and always. God bless you all.

A Parents Night Before Christmas (Author unknown) 

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house
I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
In hopes we could manage “Some Assembly Required.”

The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,
While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie’s town house to boot!
And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat….
Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!
Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
If we can’t get it right, it goes in the basement!

When what to my worrying eyes should appear,
But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,
With each part numbered and every slot named,
So if we failed, only we could be blamed.

More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,
All over the carpet they were scattered about.
“Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!
Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand.”
“Honey,” said hubby, “you just glued my hand.”

And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact
To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
With “assembly required” till morning’s first light.

We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,
Till our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt.
The coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin
Before we attached the last rod and last pin.

Then laying the tools away in the chest,
We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.
But I said to my husband just before I passed out,
“This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.

Tomorrow we’ll cheer, let the holiday ring,
And not have to run to the store for a thing!
We did it! We did it! The toys are all set
For the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!”

Then off to dreamland and sweet repose I gratefully went,
Though I suppose there’s something to say for those self-deluded…
I’d forgotten that BATTERIES are never included!

Related articles

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year

Everybody seems to get excited about Christmas, even those who are going through rough times—Religious or Secular.  It is the most wonderful time of the year— shopping malls buzzing with shoppers; the lights, the decorations, the greetings, the music, the foods, and most of all the smiles. It seems people smile more during the Christmas season.

But amid all the excitement and fun, Christmas does not mean the same to all people and culture. It is a mixture of religious and secular traditions, and depending on where you live and to which culture you belong, the season could take on a different meaning.

From a Christian perspective, “Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated on December 25 as a religious and cultural holiday by billions of people around the world.”

Kids love Christmas, it seems the tradition got started specifically for them. When I was a young child, I got excited about Christmas too, but when Santa did not show up at my house for about 3 years in a row, I became sad and abandoned Christmas, and subsequently developed a hatred for Santa Claus.

However, as I grew older I understood what Santa Claus was all about: He brings happiness to sad faces. But most often than not, the parents have to take the place of Santa. Unfortunately many parents do not have the wherewithal to do so; therefore, they have to depend on relatives, friends and neighbors and sometimes you.

Won’t you make a sad face happy this Christmas? It doesn’t have to be a child. Maybe you know somebody who has been out of work for a long time. More than likely such a person is going through rough times. You could be Santa Claus to that person’s kids or to the entire family. The Bible says: ”  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”