Purpose

It is a cold, rainy Tuesday. One of those days that, from the moment the alarm clock goes off, you think to yourself "Why am I even getting out of bed today?" Then, you spend the rest of the day wishing you were doing anything but what you're doing. If you are anything like me, you end up thinking deep thoughts like "Why am I here?" "Why do I do the things I do?" "Did I shut off the oven when I left the house...."

Driving home, I was contemplating purpose. I'd just emailed a friend who is studying the Bridal paradigm that is so critical for believers to understand as we walk out our journey of faith. I had just explained that the reason that the Muslim faith is the fastest growing faith in the world is that it gives it's followers purpose. While the extremists are misguided, their faith has a purpose and ultimate destiny- - no matter what means they must use to achieve it. And, they are wholeheartedly committed. We look at them as crazy, yet they have found the one thing that everyone is searching for... purpose.

I grew up in a Pastor's home. I was NOT the typical PK. No wild child here. I know I had some moments of rebellion but I loved God with all my heart. I KNEW God had a plan and purpose for my life. I didn't want to do anything that would disqualify me from all that God had for me.

As I grew into adult hood, not much of anything seemed to have a point to it. Or, at least I made them about the wrong point... college was all about getting my M.R.S. degree. That bounced me from failed relationship to failed relationship... with all the fingers pointed back at myself for the failing. This set a pattern for my life that lead to a brutal divorce and confusion and what I was told was disqualification from the very purposes I'd lived so hard to try and achieve. My vision of ministry and life was fashioned according to a wrong mentality that it was somehow about being good enough. Looking a certain way. Singing a certain way. But, there was no ultimate purpose.....

Ok... so what am I saying? I had been in "the church" my entire life and knew all of the right answers and could quote all the right Scriptures and still found myself where the majority of society finds itself... asking "what now?". The church has offered plans and purposes but done a poor job of defining them so that people understand. We have offered very little more than stagnate religion that leaves people believing they've done everything right but find that nothing has turned out as promised. They aren't propsering financially. Their families are in ruins. Their lives look exactly like the rest of the world so what is the purpose of getting up and going to church every Sunday just to go to work on Monday and find you are no different than the guy in the cube next to you who spent the weekend drunk?

In the last four years I have been on an indepth spiritual journey. I've been after that purpose. I decided that if everything I'd been taught my entire life was real, I wanted it, but not the way I'd learned it or perceived it. I wanted GOD! I was desperate for an encounter with a real God...not just some emotional release for a moment. I have been devouring the Word. Finding out that some of what I'd been taught in church was actually incorrect... (let's face it... fallable people attempting to teach an infallable Word are not always gonna get it right)..... and finding a very different version of God than I'd ever dreamed about.

The Gospel we've been presenting as a church is only half a gospel. We preach that Jesus lived... He died...He was buried and He rose again. Come and serve this Jesus. Come and receive eternal life. That's GREAT. Don't get me wrong. But a get out of hell free card just doesn't do it when you are sitting in a house with no electricity in it and there is no food in the fridge. I've been there! There is so much more!!!

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!!! As a conquering King! As a Bridegroom who is passionate for a bride without spot or wrinkle who has been washed in the blood of the lamb!!! The very names of God are His very character. We have got to, as a church, connect people with more than an opportunity to float on a cloud and play a harp!

Ok... when the Bible teaches that those who are faithful with little will be entrusted with much.. what does that mean? For some, we've been taught that if we are faithful in our tithe that God will give us more finances. So, what happens to those who are faithful in their tithe and giving in offerings but still find that financial ends aren't meeting. Let me submit another thought....

God's intention from the beginning of time was to partner with us in the administration of His kingdom here on earth. We see this even in Adam naming the animals. So, what if, when we are faithful with little NOW the much comes when Jesus returns and we reign and rule with Him? There is so much more than just what is happening in our lives TODAY or TOMORROW or NEXT YEAR or TWENTY YEARS AGO! There is an eternal KINGDOM. Read Matthew 4-6. Jesus wasn't referring to building the church... over and over He talked of building a Kingdom.

So, I've covered alot of ground here. If anyone reads this, your head might be swimming. But hang on. Over the next... however long... I'm going to present some practical teaching and applications for kingdom building and finding your purpose. Finding a relationship that has value and meaning... a relationship with a man, Jesus, who is sitting at the throne of His Father cheering you on in this journey because He so passionately desires YOU!!! I hope SOMEBODY will join me.

Pursuing Him and Him alone,
Vicki