Living Life On Purpose

"This is your life, are you who you want to be?”

The band Switchfoot put that great question into motion when they wrote “This is your life” a couple years ago. A song with an obvious challenge to look at your life and ask yourself…am I satisfied?

Think about today for a second. How many choices did you make today, and how many commitments are you involved in solely because YOU initiated them? Is your life heading in a direction that is being dictated by high school and college counselors, or maybe influenced by your close friends or relatives?

At this point in your life, how much say do you really have?

My fear for us 20somethings growing up in America today is that we aren’t really in as much control as we think. We take on the mentality that we will go wherever life takes us, and not actually lead our own lives! We choose common career paths that make decent money and are socially acceptable, not because it’s what we want to do, or even what we love, but because a college counselor can lay out a 4 year plan to “success.” I don’t have a problem with counselors or even college for that matter. What I do have a problem with are those that fail to lead their own lives and refuse to acknowledge that they might actually have a God given purpose in this world.

So here is the challenge: Live life on purpose!

We can’t afford to waste our time, energy, and money just mimicking what everyone else is doing around us. We must be in hot pursuit of our dreams lest they escape our hearts, and end up with the countless others that all too easily seem to evade us.

Following your God given purpose in life is by no means a cake walk. Reality is that you will have to do things you don’t like, things you might not see purpose in. It is vital that no matter what, you persevere toward your goal, fulfilling the requirements set before you either by God or man.

I once heard someone say “If you’re not growing daily, you’re gradually dying.”
Do the world a favor, start living by your unique design. I believe there is no better place to be than living each day fulfilling your purpose.

Runaway Role Models

Role models. Since early childhood I can remember having someone to look up to. From "all-knowing" grandpa's, to superstars in Hollywood or professional sports, at some point in our life (as the poll shows) we have had a role model.

But at some point don't we realize that grandpa didn't really know everything? That fame and fortune isn't as desirable as we once thought it was? At some point we simply face reality; life will only be what we make it to be. All too quickly arise choices between dead-end jobs or college, pursuit of marriage or the single life, issues of family and finance.Life hits us right between the eyes and we are stuck in a daze of pure reality, and reality is telling you you're on your own.

The truth is, although we see a "dog eat dog" world out there, life wasn't meant to be lived that way:

The Bible tells us that there is hope.
Read Romans 5:1-11

These passages tell us that there is one that saw our need for a Savior so much that he died for us even when we had no idea who he was. That by faith in Jesus Christ, even hard reality can make us strong. Jesus didn't come just so we could appreciate His good deeds and great teaching, but to model a life of purpose and unity with God through belief in Him.

Next time you are tempted to think you're on your own, remember there is an eternal God, much greater than any fad, that wants to show you what life is all about, and how to live it to it's full extent. You want a role model that won't die out with the times...? Look to Jesus, a pure example 2,000+ years and counting.

Agents of Change

What causes the addict to smoke their last cigarette? What spurs on a losing team to be victorious? How does an unlikely, unfortunate, or overlooked person end up in greatness?

Seized opportunity and overwhelming desire.

We all have hardship, we all face some form of adversity. From the deepest personal or family struggle to an inability to control your own schedule, finances, or tongue. We all have those recurring themes that keep us awake at night.

How to "fix" it you might ask? The truth is, change is a process and not something to be achieved by word of mouth. But here is the starting line:


Seized Opportunity:
At some place in midst of our plight opportunity arises, and maybe not with the silver lining you would imagine. For the addict that i mentioned earlier, it could be when the drug is out of reach, or the effects of your choices hit close to home.
It's in that moment an overwhelming desire to break free arises, and you must not let it pass.

Overwhelming Desire
You reach the point when you "just can't take it anymore." An unforeseen strength rises. For the losing team it's when they take advantage of the opposing teams mistake, they only have once chance to capitalize, and everyone pulls together to see the victory. It's realizing that things not only should change, but MUST change.

Look to the Bible for a moment to read the story of David & Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. A perfect illustration of seized opportunity and overwhelming desire.

David seized his opportunity with an overwhelming desire to see God's name be revered...a cause worthy of fighting for, a situation where change must intervene.

Wherever you are at today, change is only a choice away. The conditions may never be perfect, but know that it is possible.