31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 31 ~ never quit}

If you are just joining in, I have just finished a 31 day series on Living with Purpose.

                                           You can join in from day one HERE.

Here we are. October 31st. The challenge for me this month was to stay on purpose and write about it. I can honestly say, I have experienced a myriad of emotions this month while trying to stay focused. I didn't meet my 31 day goal, but the knowledge I gained was invaluable.

We all ask those questions of why am I here, what purpose can I serve, or even why can't I be like someone else. But I've learned our purpose is more than questions, it's about resting in God's presence realizing that even little things make a difference when we give our everyday lives to Him in worship.

Hopefully, you have spent some time thinking about your strengths, talents, and what makes you cry your eyes out or bang your fists on the table. I hope the posts this month have challenged you to say no to somethings, so you can say yes to those things most important. Remember, you are not superwoman or superman.

What has become ever more clear along this 31 day journey as my daddy breathed his last breath on the 24th, is that your purpose will be lived out each moment. There will be divine appointments along the way, as well as interruptions.

But when you decide to fill a need, you'll realize there's only ONE PURPOSE. And to that purpose . . .

you must never, never, never quit!

This is the last day in a 31 day series, start here to catch up from the beginning.                                Also, if you'd like some great reads, check out these other 31 Day-ers!                                             Great ideas, how-to's, and thoughts.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 25 ~ life's a breath}

Yesterday was a sad day for me, but an amazing day for my daddy. He has gone to walk the streets of gold with Jesus. This day has made me realize the importance of living my life to the fullest and on purpose.

Our lives are but a breath and there’s no greater reminder of that than the loss of a loved one. My daddy worked diligently. He loved his family to the fullest. He served God. And he laughed and played hard.  He was the most generous man you’d ever meet. And he always made you feel like you could do anything and you were the most important person in the world.  He truly was a great example of a life lived on purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 sums up the way my daddy saw life:

What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.  And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him.

Life's but a breath, live out every moment with purpose, passion, joy, generosity and laughter.

Thank you, Daddy, for all the sweet lessons about life that you taught me.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 24 ~ fill a need}

If you are just joining in, we are in the middle of a 31 day series on Living with Purpose.

                                           You can join in from day one HERE.

Chasing after that all illusive "purpose" is a gut-wrenching process, especially if you are focused on the wrong thing. We complicate it. We want it to be big. We want it to be grand. We want to make a huge impact. While all that might not be bad, if that is our sole focus we once again are missing the point.

We've talked about the little things a few times throughout our 31 days and clarifying our purpose through the use of our strengths, but many times God just needs us to step out and help where needed. There is purpose in helping others by filling a need. Maybe that need is not your life-long passion, but in that moment doing what seems like the smallest insignificant thing by helping someone else, is huge.

Don't waste your moments sitting around trying to "find" your purpose, instead live on purpose. Live to fill a need. Step up and help a single dad trying to figure out how to juggle his four kids. Step into the children's ministry room at church and see if there is something you can do. Ask your boss if there is anything you can do for him. Provide a sandwich for someone on the street. Needs are all around you. Fill one.

God honors our actions. He wants us serving his people. Find a need and fill it, then watch how God will move and direct you. God can't move an immovable person. Once we get moving then He can direct our movements.

According to Newton's First Law:

An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.This law is often called  "the law of inertia".

Once you step out and fill a need, God can then begin steering you to your place of purpose.

What need do you see today that needs to be filled? Maybe God is waiting on you to step in and fill it.

This is Day 24 in a 31 day series, start here to catch up from the beginning.                                Also, if you'd like some great reads, check out these other 31 Day-ers!                                          Great ideas, how-to's, and thoughts.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 23 ~ one purpose}

If you are just joining in, we are in the middle of a 31 day series on Living with Purpose.

                                           You can join in from day one HERE.

In case you haven't understood the underlying theme through each post over the course of the last 23 days, here's your one purpose . . . WORSHIP!

And I will give them one heart and one purpose:                                                                                                           to worship me forever. (Jeremiah 32:39)

Spend some time today worshipping our Lord and Savior. Your purpose is Him and all for Him!

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 22 ~ you're not superwoman}

If you are just joining in, we are in the middle of a 31 day series on Living with Purpose.

                                           You can join in from day one HERE.

Coming to terms with the fact that I was not superwoman was a shock!

Realizing that God didn't need me to be superwoman was even a bigger shock!

When God called me to step out and go to a new campus that my church, Bay Area Fellowship (BAF), was opening, I obeyed. Boy, you would have been proud of me (well, not so much). I heard God. I listened. I obeyed. I moved.

I was thrilled. I was doing it all. I was superwoman. I was the Bible study coordinator of the women's ministries at BAF and I loved it! I taught women's studies and met with incredible women weekly. My kids attended there and served. It was a great season of life getting to watch my children, young adults, serve. I was in heaven. Great church. Great kids. Great ministry. Great calling.

But after a few months of "doing it all" at both campuses, God got a hold of my heart one day. I was in my morning devotion time and I felt like I was living on the mountain top. Then somewhere on top of that mountain God tugged at my heart. He did it through the scripture Matthew 19:16-22. 

Quick paraphrase: The rich young man asks Jesus what he needs to do to be saved. He had kept all the commandments and so Jesus tells him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The story tells us that the man went away sad.

What tugged at my heart that day was that the rich man wanted it both ways. He wanted to be superman! He wanted to keep his comfortable life and when Jesus called him to a new way of life he walked away sad. What God spoke to my heart had nothing to do with riches - it had everything to do with obedience.

The man asked Jesus "what do I need to do?" Does that sound familiar? Have you prayed "what is my purpose? where do you want me to go? how shall I serve you? We can all testify we've asked! But when Jesus gives his answer, sadness came. The rich man wanted to do what Jesus wanted and keep his old familiar life too. 

That's where I was when God knocked on my heart. I wanted my "old" familiar life. It was a blessing. It was convenient. It was me! I wanted to go where God called, but I wanted to leave one foot in that comfortable place. Yes, I thought I could do it all. Shoot, I was doing it all! I was superwoman. But that day I had to meet with my leader and explain my disobedience. I cried through it all. I was sad realizing God doesn't want superwomen. He wants obedience and I was disobedient. 

Yes, more than anything God wants obedient people, not comfortable people. He wants growth and new creations, not old convenient routines. He wants us to trust Him, that just maybe somewhere outside of that comfort zone, that there is a whole new way of life waiting for us. Something grander than we can imagine.

Are you trying to be superwoman? superman?

Has God called you to do something, but you're still trying to keep one foot in the comfort zone?

Your purpose waits on the other side of you stepping out in obedience. Trust Him. 

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 21 ~ just say no}

If you are just joining in, we are in the middle of a 31 day series on Living with Purpose.

                                           You can join in from day one HERE.

Let's just chat about a subject that's eating at me right now. It's one I'm struggling with and one I know God is saying "girl, you need to take a look at this." How do I know that? Because everywhere I turn -- devotionals, friends, pastors, blogs -- the topic is the same "just say no."

About this time every year I begin laying out my goals, dreams, and purposes for the upcoming year. So, I'm already thinking about my  2012 calendar. Are you? I'm praying through what needs to stay, what needs to go, and how it all lines up with my purpose. As I look at where I'm headed, it is overwhelming. I think that's why God is stirring up the "just say no, Alene" within me.

Do you wonder how you can live on purpose if you're saying no to great things? Do you think you have to say yes all the time to live life to the fullest? Well, saying "NO" is a more productive answer for us to live on purpose. Just because something seems good, doesn't mean it is our "yes". Maybe it's meant for somebody else's purposeful "yes."

Are there times when we need to say "yes"? Yes! When those interruptions come that we've talked about the last few days, sometimes friends and family need our YES right then and there to get through the situation. However, I don't think those are the Yes's that throw us off our purpose. It's those yes's we throw around so freely that get us off track.

When we don't take the time to think through what we are saying yes too, we then become overwhelmed by our yes'. So maybe what we consider interruptions sometimes are just the stresses of us saying yes to things that weren't meant for us.

When we become more conscience of saying "NO", then we begin to live life on purpose.



Check out the other 31 Dayers HERE.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 20 ~ divine appointment}

If you are just joining in, we are in the middle of a 31 day series on Living with Purpose.                    You can join in from day one HERE.

Day 20 - is anybody out there still with me? I am feeling the burn, but so enjoying the journey.

Yesterday we talked about life's interruptions getting in the way and throwing us off the path of our purpose. Today, I want to look at the same thought but in a different light.

What if those interruptions are there for a purpose?
What if those real life frustrations were God's way of putting us back on His path?
What if we missed a divine appointment because we viewed it as an interruption?

"Even in the great decisions of life accept and welcome My Will.                                               Try to see in each interruption, each task, however small, the same                                     fulfillment of Divine intent." God Calling October 20

When we begin to see every aspect of our lives as purposeful, our minds are open to seeing distractions and interruptions as divine appointments. Looking through scripture, isn't that what we see?

Mary is engaged to Joseph and things are great . . . then she conceives Jesus by the spirit.
Mary and Joseph are traveling and ready to get home  . . . they realize Jesus is missing.
5000 people are hungry, traveling,  and looking for their next meal . . . and Jesus says sit down.
Saul is a bold leader persecuting Christians . . . he is blinded by the light on the road to Damascus.
Mary and Martha are visiting . . . Jesus and his traveling buddies show up and need a meal.

Take a moment to read through some New Testament stories and you'll realize each one contains an "interruption." It's in that moment that we see Jesus and the miracle.

Lord, forgive me for taking my eyes off you and being frustrated by interruptions. Help me realize those moments are divine appointments you have arranged for me to help others, listen to a hurting friend, hug a grieving soul, or just pray. Help me see that those interruptions are your way of putting me back on the path of Your Purpose. Amen.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 19 ~ BAM interrupted by real life}

If you are just joining in, we are in the middle of a 31 day series on Living with Purpose. You can join in from day one HERE.

Do you ever set goals and then
     BAM interruptions out of the ordinary happen to throw you off course?

Have you ever stepped out into the fear of the unknown to accomplish something and then
     BAM interruptions out of nowhere happen to make you stop and doubt?

Have you ever sat down to write out your goals and then
     BAM your mind is interrupted by a fear that invades your thought processes?

Living with purpose is not for the faint of heart. Interruptions continually happen.
Living with purpose is not for those who have their act together. Interruptions create chaos.
Living with purpose is not a walk in the park. Interruptions are bumps in the road.

Living with purpose takes focus every minute of every day!

Are you having a week of being hit with BAM, BAM, BAM? Be determined to stay the path.

Declare, I might be interrupted for a moment, but not for a lifetime.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 18 ~ discover your talents}

If you are just joining in, we are in the middle of a 31 day series on Living with Purpose. You can join in from day one HERE.

Yesterday we visited about discovering your strengths. If you did not read the post, please hop over and read it now.   There is something so valuable and affirming about knowing your strengths and God-given talents. Once again, I urge you to get any one of the StrengthsFinder assessments and take it.

Does your life ever feel like a blur? You aren't sure where you're suppose to be or what you should be doing. Well, bringing focus to what we are gifted to do or what our talents are helps us know the path on which we should step out.

So many times when we talk of talents, we think only of athletic, music, writing, or even artistic talent. But that's not the case. Each of us are talented. Talents come in many forms and fashions.

Is it easy for you to talk to others?
Do you love working with children?
Can you organize and plan well?
Are you great with numbers and spreadsheets?
Do you enjoying writing encouragement cards or letters to others?
Do you love the nitty-gritty details of a project?
Can you feel the emotions of another person when you visit with them?
Do you continually encourage and inspire others?

If you answered yes to any of the above, that's a talent. We are not all wired the same way by our Heavenly Father. And remember -- talents don't just come in big packages, they come even in the littlest of sizes. If you still aren't sure then read little isn't little from Day 12. Nope, if it's your talent and you are faithfully using it then it is huge!

Spend time examining yourself and getting to know your strengths and talents. It is so freeing when someone asks what your strengths are and you can actually answer. I know because I was in such a situation last week . . .

I was sitting in a meeting and out of the blue we were asked to name our top two strengths. Now before I would have gagged and thought Seriously, I don't have any. But last week I was able to say aloud and describe my top two strengths. Did it feel awkward? YES! Was it freeing? YES!

Spend some time getting to know yourself and your strenths. Write them down. Claim them.

It is so freeing!

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 17 ~ discover your strengths}

If I were to ask you to name your strengths, could you do it?

Years ago, if you would have asked me to do the same, I would have hemmmmmed and hawwwwed around and would have been speechless. Then I would have proceeded to give you a list of all my weaknesses. Can you relate? Ooooh, I knew them well.

We all focus on our weaknesses. We try to strengthen our weakness. We let our weaknesses tell us we can't do something and feel inferior. Our weaknesses hinder us from stepping into our purpose.

But what if, just what if, we only focused on our strengths? What if we worked on strengthening our strengths and becoming better at them? What if we recognized those strengths and realized they are so important to our purpose?

My life changed when I read Now, Discover Your Strengths. You have got to get this book or any in the StrengthsFinder series. The newest one out is StrengthsFinder 2.0. Each book comes with a test that will reveal your strengths. This information is invaluable! Let me just say this, your strengths are your strengths. I've read every book and taken every test and guess what.....my strengths are still the same.


Note: Buy a new book. The book has a code you will need to take a computerized test. The timed test takes about 20 or so minutes. Make sure you have some quiet time to complete it. (I read the beginning of the book until it tells you to test, then take the test. After that the test will reveal your top 5 strengths, then I only read about those. These books give invaluable information about your strengths. If you get the StrengthsFinder 2.0 it will also send you an email with information about your strengths.)

I can't express enough how this revelation changed my life. First, I was floored that the test was so accurate. Second, I was excited to know I had strengths. (silly, I know!) And third, I was amazed that what I thought were weaknesses in my life were actually strengths; I was just looking at them wrong.

Knowing those strengths has helped me realize that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139) with strengths and weaknesses. And when I focus on those strengths and move toward areas where I can use them more freely then I know I'm living more on-purpose.

Are you ready to know your strengths?

Get the book, take the test, and then let me know your top 5 strengths.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 16 ~ resting, really I am}

It's hard to believe that we are half-way through our 31 Days of Living with Purpose. I've never written this many consecutive days on this blog. It's been a challenge. It's been fun hearing from all of you. But mostly, it's been inspiring to actually live my life on-purpose daily!

After an incredible weekend of celebrating 200 volunteers that made this day possible, today I am resting. I'm actually going to take my advice from day 2 (not to mention the urging from my pastor) and rest. Are you wondering, why rest? Read this post.

This is Day 16 in a 31 day series, start here to catch up from the beginning.                                Also, if you'd like some great reads, check out these other 31 Day-ers!                                    Great ideas, how-to's, and thoughts.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 15 ~ why the tears}

Have you ever been where you are so caught up in the moment of what you are doing that all your emotion, passion, and soul feel like one and you begin to tear up? That moment. That piece of time. That emotion. Priceless.

You aren't quite sure where that tear came from, but there is no denying that something is stirring within your soul.

That full watery tear says so much.

It says . . . this is a moment I'll never forget.
It says . . . there is something to this that resonates with my soul.
It says . . . this thing I'm doing touches the very core of my heart.
It says . . . this is where I want to be.
It says . . . this is what I'm called to do.
It says . . . THIS is my purpose.

My pastor has a saying,

"What ever makes you cry your eyes out or bang your fists on the table, that thing,           that is what you are called to do."

What makes you tear up? Do you know why?

Is it some injustice being done? Is it the sadness you feel someone experiencing? Is it children playing? Is it the elderly? Is it the pain strippers experience in clubs? (see my friends ministry Simply Beautiful here - she knows why she has tears and set out to do something about it)

So, why the tears?

Chatting at the Sky has an awesome post about how our tears can be messengers. I love that thought because it is so true. Her post is totally worth the read. Touched my heart and stirred many emotions within me.

I'd love to hear what makes you cry your eyes out or bang your fists on tables.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 14 ~ the sweet spot}

If you aren't following this blog, please do HERE. Great Christmas surprises coming soon.


Are you still longing to see and know your purpose?


Where is it?
What is it?
Where will you find it?


Well, let me ask you this:


What are you gifted to do?
What are your talents?
What do others say you do well?
What would you love to do, if time or money wasn't a constraint?
What legacy would you love to leave?
What do you dream of doing?


There is something so precious about all those answers. They begin to explain and reveal the purpose of your uniqueness, your call. If you've never taken time to examine and know yourself deep down to the core, take some moments - days -  or weeks to do that. There are plenty of scriptures that ask us to search, examine and know our hearts. Get a journal and start with the questions above. I think God is honored when we view our lives important enough in His eyes to search ourselves and learn about our strengths and purpose.

If those questions seem vague and you want to see more clarity of purpose, then ask yourself "what do I consider my sweet spot?"


Your sweet spot is a place in time where all your gifts, talents, and emotions come together to stir your heart. There can be laughter, tears (which we'll talk about tomorrow) or a righteous anger that builds up within when you are in that place. It's that moment when you stop yourself and say "this is what I was made for."


There is nothing more exhilarating than that sweet spot. Your heart quickens, your soul longs for more time there, and your mind continues to dwell in that place. Your life converges as a whole and you just know "this is it!" Yes, this is what I'm called to do. Ah, that is an incredible feeling and place to be. If you have ever to experience that feeling, you know that you know -- this is it!


We talked about life being an ooey-gooey chocolate cake on Day 7. The sweet spot is found when we become aware of those precious ingredients in our life that are unique to us and begin living our life intentionally in that place.


I'd love to hear about your sweet spot.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 13 ~ self-help junkie}

If you aren't following this blog, please do! HERE. Great Christmas surprises coming.

If the little things in our lives aren't little (see Day 12), then how do we come to see them as big things and purpose? The answer is so simple that we all brush it off and say "yeah, yeah, I know that but really what do I need to do to live a purposeful life?" 

Hello, my name is Alene and I'm a self-help addict! I've mentioned before, for years I struggled with finding that "one purpose" I was made for. If you are a "self-help" junkie like me, you are probably living in that section at the book store like I did for years. I couldn't get enough learning about personalities, strengths, leadership, passions and so on. I read furiously everything I could get my hands on and my mind around, YET I was still frustrated.


Yep, I learned a lot about myself in the process (that was a good thing), but walked away still empty. still longing. still wanting. It was one day when I was crying out to God trying to put all my frustrations into a prayer that He impressed on my heart to go read Hebrews 4:12. After much nudging from Him I went and got my Bible.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Those 9 words - for the word of God is living and active - caught me off guard that day. My mind dwelled on them and I felt God impress upon my heart "You'll never have the peace and fulfilling purpose that you want until you turn to ME. What you are looking for will not be found in all the other books you are reading, but only through ME. Come read what I have to say and I'll teach you."


You betcha'! That day I got my Bible out and started digging in. I was amazed at what a fresh light He shined into my heart and life when I started viewing my everyday ordinary life in light of HIS TRUTH! It was then that the little things began to become bigger. As I looked at Christ's life, everything He stood for was ordinary, yet HUGE. 


He sought God is such ordinary ways -- in the morning, by the lake, on the mountain. And He served others with ordinary things in huge ways -- towels, mud, spit, rocks, thorns.


Through the course of that journey, God revealed to me two things you must do to find that peaceful purpose you are looking for:


1. Seek God everyday-- only He can reveal your purpose in each moment.
2. Serve Others with everything you have.


Come back tomorrow and w'ell talk about what happens when you begin to seek God with everything you have and serve others. Can you keep a secret? It's all about the sweet spot!


Let me hear from all you "self-help junkies" out there.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 12 ~ little isn't little}

If your purpose isn't about you and you shouldn't look to others to find your purpose, are you wondering how you'll ever find it?

Your purpose will be found mostly in the everyday, as we've mentioned before. From the moment your eyes pop-open in the morning to the moment you crawl back in bed - there is purpose waiting for you.

For all of us that purpose is different. So many times our season of life -- college age, young married, young parents, employed, unemployed, healthy, sick, aged -- will guide us into the area of purpose God wants us pursuing at the moment.

If we don't live our everyday lives with responsibility and with Godly stewardship of our time, then how can we expect God to open doors for us to pursue something bigger for Him. Take it from one who got caught up in this rut for years. I spent so much time complaining to God about my everyday ordinary life that I'm sure He wanted to smack me one!

Be faithful in the little things of life and                                                                               He will give you more as your obedience increases. 

By. The. Way. What constitutes a little thing?

Why do we consider aspects of our life "little"?

If you're going to college -- that's HUGE as it opens doors for tomorrow.
If you are home raising young children -- that's HUGE as you're raising Godly leaders.
If you're caring for the elderly -- that's HUGE as you minister and love on them.
If you're caught up in a low paying job -- that's HUGE as you have a job and can move up from there.

Who dictates what "little" is?

Lord, forgive me for seeing the everyday routines as "little". They are certainly HUGE! They are where you can use me. They are your moments and each of those are HUGE! Thank you for making the little things not so little, but HUGE.

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 11 ~ comparison kills}

Curiosity did not kill the cat, comparison did!

I don't know about you, but I've spent many a moment on my journey to living with purpose comparing myself to others. What I've FINALLY realized is that I lose out on being me when I'm trying to be somebody else.

There will always be somebody whose purpose looks better, funner, prettier, messier, busier, and even more important-er. :) But we aren't to waste our life by comparing ourselves to others. We are instead called to live our lives serving others.

Our purpose is to please God, not people. 1 Thess. 2:4 NLT

That's it! Please God. Not people. Not our friends, family, co-workers, ministry partners. Just God!


When we waste our precious moments comparing what we have or don't have to others, we miss out on the opportunity to use our gifts and talents. When are eyes are on others purposes, we have no time to step out into our own future to grow our own gifts and talents. Put your eyes on God. He'll reveal that purpose as you seek Him and look to serve others.


Your purpose lies within you. Your purpose awaits you. 


Rule for purposeful living: Quit comparing yourself to others, it kills the growth of your purpose.


Do you struggle with comparing your purpose in life to others life journey's?

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 10 ~ it's not about you}

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I believe that many of us get so caught up in pursuing and finding our purpose - that we miss our purpose!

We set out to seek that grand thing where we can leave a mark here on this earth. We tell ourselves:


I want to leave a legacy. I want to make a difference. I want to be known. I want to influence millions. I will dig into books on purpose and meaning to find my purpose. I will find my purpose one way or another. I know I was born for something bigger and better. I am called, but to what. . . 


Look how many I's are in the above paragraph. The first rule of thought about your purpose to remember:


Your purpose will NEVER be about you!


Your purpose will be found is serving others. 


So, what is that burning desire within you? Find a way for it to serve others and meet their needs. 

31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 9 ~ Everyday Worship}

If you are just popping over here, you can catch up in this series of 31 Days of Living with Purpose here. I am on a journey of living the next 31 Days with meaningful purpose behind each thought and action. I'm telling you, at Day 9 this. is. getting. hard.


The first 8 days we've looked at how to live our ordinary moments on purpose in every little thing we do through rest, entertaining, keeping balance, and celebrating. Today, we'll look at worship.

Years ago when I began having a "who am I" and "what am I here for" crisis, God brought to new light a scripture that I've always loved. The new life was breathed into me through The Message version of the Bible.

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.   Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. (Romans 12:1)

To live purposefully as a living sacrifice is to take your everyday, ordinary life and give it to God as worship. I remember thinking WHOA . . . worship isn't just about one hour on Sunday! When you sleep, eat, walk, play, work, change a diaper, confront a friend, sing a song, plan a meal, or even run carpool -- it is worship to God. No mundane task or ordinary skill goes unnoticed by the Lord of Lords. 


Now that we've laid the ground work that every day, moment, and minute have purpose, tomorrow we dig in a little deeper.


Are you having a "who am I" crisis? 


Can you begin to see that everything - big and small - has purpose, meaning, and should be your everyday worship and offering to God?




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31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 8 ~ Celebrate!}

There's a party goin' on right here

A celebration to last throughout the years

So bring your good times, and your laughter too

We gonna celebrate your party with you

Celebrate Good Times ---- YEAH! 

Living a life with purpose means you stop and celebrate those special moments. Today, we celebrate my hubby's 50th birthday. He deserves to be celebrated. Each blessed day we live is reason to thank God for and celebrate. But even if there isn't a family birthday, please find something and celebrate along with us.

 Our celebration was a family gathering at Brewster's downtown. We had a scrumptious meal and then topped it off with a concert by the Spazmatics. Totally 80's. Totally like "Revenge of the Nerds". Totally family FUN and Celebratory!

Today, I also celebrate I've conquered 8 days of the 31 challenge. I celebrate and give shouts out to those I serve beside in ministry. I give accolades to my children and props to my friends.


Yes, every day let's celebrate. There's a party going on, what will you celebrate?


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31 Days of Living with Purpose {day 7 ~ It's About Chocolate Cake}

If life is a balancing act, why am I so clumsy? Does that questions strike a nerve somewhere within your soul?


Well, it does mine! For years people have said, "you need to make sure you are keeping your priorities straight . . . God, kids, hubby, family, work, ministry . . . and the list goes on and on." But the thing is, I'm not a juggler. Nor am I good at balancing balls, plates, or life. I'm just your everyday ordinary girl trying to live my life full of purpose.


So, where is that balance everyone is talking about? How do those priorities measure up? Truthfully, some days I think I have it. Other days, I feel like a failure. A few years ago I read a book by Christine Caine "Can I Have and Do it All, Please?" It was just the answer I needed. She gave me permission not to balance. I didn't have to set priorities. I could have it all!

The secret: Live your life out like a ooey-gooey chocolate cake!


You see, we've been taught for years to prioritize our lives. When we do that we set our priorities up to complete with one another. Which really is crazy! Why should my hubby have to compete with God or my kids with my hubby. That's the pie mentality. There are only so many slices to pie and who is going to get them. Who is going to lose out today?


But the ooey-gooey chocolate cake, think about all those scrumptious ingredients that go into making it. Each one of those ingredients are like elements in our lives: God, hubby, children, church, work, ministry, volunteer work, education, and finances. As we put all ingredients into the mixing bowl and work them together then eventually we get to taste and savor the ooey-gooey chocolate cake.


Our lives are like chocolate cake. There will be days when hubby gets more attention than kids, or ministry gets more attention than family, or our education gets more attention than voluteering. But in the end if we focus on those things that we are passionate about, we will savor our ooey-gooey purpose-filled life.


Living life on purpose is not a balancing act, it is the sum total of your purpose-filled days.


It's all about the chocolate cake! Yum.