Where do you find meaning?

 

There comes a time when we all try to make sense of our lives.

Maybe it's even multiple times.

However, there are 2 specific times in life when it's hard to figure out our purpose..

after high school before finding a job and during retirement.

These 2 time periods tend to leave people questioning.

 

It is common to value in our lives by the paycheck we earn, but the Bible doesn't say anything about the dollar amount on a check, defining a person.

God doesn't care what our bank account looks like.

He cares what our heart looks like.

 

In church,

the main idea of his sermon was...

with the motto,

"The course of a Christian's life is designed by God to give eternal value to earthly work."

and we studied Acts 20:24:

"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."

Here, Paul was saying that nothing held value in his life other than the Gospel.
Even though he had much education and knowledge, that did not carry the value of his life. All that mattered to him was to be a living testimony of God's grace.

You see, life is not about achievement, education, money, gifts.
Life is about being a living testimony of God's grace and love, so that others may come to know Him. That is where we find value.
Sooner or later, your job will end, school will be over and where will you find your value?

We shouldn't put our value in things that are only temporary, but we should find our value in the eternal which can only be found in God.
Don't you want to make a lasting impact?
Find your value in God and show it.
Use your life as a testimony and share it with others.
That is when you find meaning in life...
when you are putting all your focus on the kingdom of God.

Don't get discouraged and let down if you don't have a career...life is not about making money. Your diploma or paycheck will not give you everlasting satisfaction. You will only find true satisfaction in God's presence.
Get out and volunteer your time to making relationships and sharing what God has done in your life and you will be sure to make an eternal impact. Don't give up, but finish the course God has given you! Keep your faith in God and you will get past any trial.

2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Don't forget to pray for the unreached people group of the day!

This week's reading plan:
Today: 1 Samuel 15-17
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 18-20
Wednesday: 1 Samuel 21-24
Thursday: 1 Samuel 25-27
Friday: 1 Samuel 28-31
Saturday: 2 Samuel 1-3

 

 

Need a little hope?

I just finished a book! Don't you just love finishing a book? I love it when I finish a book. I feel so accomplished, especially since most of my life, reading has been a struggle for me. It may have only been about 260 pages, but hey it was a book! Anyway, I'm sure you're just dying to know what book I read. The book is called "Fools Rush In" by Janice Thompson. I was browsing the free books (nothing's better than free!) on my Nook and came across this one. It's a romantic comedy about a wedding planner from Galveston who has yet to find her own true love. The book tells a story of how the wedding planner, Bella, stumbles upon something different. It was cute and witty, but there was a reoccuring theme for the book that I really enjoyed...hope. 

Credit janicethompson.com

Bella's Italian family hangs onto this one phrase whenever they face obstacles..."finché c'è vita, c'è speranza." Don't worry I'll translate for you..."as long as there is life, there is hope." I don't know about you, but I think that's deep! "As long as there is life, there is hope." This one statement got me thinking.

In the Bible, John 14:6 says, "I [Jesus] am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..." You see where I'm going? Jesus is life. We find life in Jesus. So as long as we have Jesus, we have hope. No matter what. As long as I'm keeping Jesus in the center of my life, I will always have hope. This may not seem to be a revolutionary thought to you, but it is to me. 

Of course, I've always known that I find life and hope in Jesus, but I guess this fictional book made me think of it in a different light. With Jesus there is always hope. If I am living for Jesus, I have hope. So it seems simple to me, if you feel hopeless...seek Jesus. He is the only source that can give you life and hope. Nothing else can give you hope. Worldly things will fade away, but Jesus is eternal.   Presidents, jobs, and money can't give us hope. 

Jesus is the only source that gives us eternal hope.

Today's scripture for read-your-Bible-in-a-year plan is Mark 15-16.

Have a wonderful day!