Tuesday, March 2, 2010

My Purpose/My Mission

I love how the Bible so clearly answers deep heart questions, and no doubt, many of us have wondered about our purpose; our mission. Many books have been written on this. It can seem overwhelming and confusing to some, especially if we let the world influences answer.
As I was reading John 15 (Jesus is talking about being the true vine and our need to dwell in Him),  without much thinking, I underlined vs 8 "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit." ; and I wrote above it "My purpose - that my Father is glorified. 
A little further in my reading I underlined vs. 16-17 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide....so that you will love one another."  Above this I wrote "My mission - bear fruit so that I may love others." 
I then asked a question that kind of scared me...
"How do I glorify God?" The scary part for me was the underlying thought - "If my purpose is to glorify God, how do I do that? What if I can't; what if I fail?'"
I really was afraid to ask this question!!! 
However, I did and when I did, I couldn't believe how quickly He answered me...

 
"These beautiful nighttime clouds do not work to bring glory to ME, they just do what I created them to do....and I am glorified in them."

  
The stunning colors of an ocean sunset doesn't work to bring glory to ME, it just does what I created it to do...and I am glorified."

 

These children do not work to glorify me, they are made in MY image, enjoying MY creation and I am glorified." 
 May be this is simple, but to me it was such a beautiful word from the Lord...I will glorify Him by being who He created me to be...and it really is that simple. With my gifts, talents, weaknesses, opportunities, and passions I can walk out this purpose-that He be glorified! 
Now, the second part, my mission, becomes pretty easy...to bear fruit that I may love others. I can't bear fruit on my own, which is why the LORD speaks of abiding in HIM. I am made in His image, to bring glory to Him and have been enabled by Him to walk out my mission...to bear fruit. 
What a perfect time to be studying Elohim...the Glorious Creator of all!

13 comments:

  1. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

    Now to those photos - WOW! GORGEOUS!

    YES - be who He created us to be. That simple!

    Love it!

    Blessings and thanks for sharing all of this tonight! :)

    Blessings and hugs - praying for Caresse!
    Jill

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  2. I love this! So simple...I had not thought of it exactly like that before. Thank you for sharing! :)

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  3. such a wonderful reminder!
    thank you....
    val

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  4. I love it! Thank you for sharing- so peaceful, so beautiful- I need to bring more glory to God but your post gives me hope- maybe I'm not doing as bad as I think I am.

    Thank you Shonni!

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  5. Amen. So beautifully put Shonni, and the pictures are equally as beautiful

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  6. Shonni,
    Absolutely beautiful!

    Our staff just took a course on our life mission. I have to say I was dreading it cause I primarily just stay home with the kids...so what could I possibly do....but I learned so much about me (I know, I know, 51 and you would think there would be no surprises, right?)....and I was able to develop a mission statement for me. I was so tickled.....anyway, someday I may share...but for now, I just think your post was beautiful!! And the pic of the kids in the water - gorgeous!!

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  7. Thank you for a great start to my day!

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  8. Thank you for reminding us as to where we need to be focused!
    Praying for Caresse!
    Please let us know how she is doing!

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  9. Your words may have been simple, but VERY powerful! Your insight truly blessed me today... thank you. For years, I struggled with feeling inferior, inadequate, or whatever b/c I was "just a mom". Several years ago, someone spoke words over me during a prayer time that helped me realize this is my calling. Once I embraced it, my life has not been the same. Crazy, but oh so wonderful & it's all b/c of Him! Blessings ~ Dardi

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  10. Shonni,
    Thank you for putting this so beautifully! I have often struggled with my "mission", always wondering if there is 'more'...more than being a wife and a mom. I have realized that in my attempts to label myself, I have put a gracious and amazing God in a box.
    What a gift we have in His Word to learn each and every day more about Him, more about ourselves. I know in my life, God has used the adoption of our daughter to grow me in ways I did not think possible and I am so incredibly thankful.
    April
    www.intoourheart.blogspot.com

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  11. Amen, beautifully put! Thank you for the reminder. Blessings to you today!

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  12. The Lord has been teaching me these same things. Thank you for sharing your heart.

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