DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE!

As a young girl, I searched for the meaning of life. When I was 14 years old I found it!

My best friend Cindy brought me to a youth meeting in the basement of a bookstore in our small town in Minnesota. It was September 1972. I can remember like it was yesterday.

One of the guys had his guitar and started singing a song. Then, one of adults shared some good news with us. That good news was that God the Father sent His Son Jesus to earth to pay the penalty of my sin.

That penalty was death! Ultimate death is total separation from the One who created and loved me. God is holy and unless Jesus paid the price for my sin and your sin - we'd still be a sinner! We couldn't be holy or righteous enough to be in His presence because God is holy and nothing unholy can live in His presence.

That day, I learned that Jesus Christ took my wrath of God upon himself that I deserved! He took the wrath that we all deserved because of our sin. All of my sin and the sin of the world was placed on Him! Through His death, burial and resurrection - He lives forever and because He lives, we can live eternally too!

I remember praying and asking Jesus to come into my heart that day. I made Him my Lord and Savior. I knew something had happened to my life. I remember coming out of that meeting and looking up into the sky thinking that the sky was brighter blue, and the grass was greener!

It wasn't until many years later, after my husband I started a church and were pastoring for a few years that I found the Scripture in Isaiah 43:7 that I found out the reason I was created. I knew God loved me. I knew I was called to do His Word. But when I found Isaiah 43:7 - it really made me realized why I was created. I was created for HIS GLORY!

I was created to bring the Lord glory. That's my main purpose! I don't have to stress out wondering if I am fulfilling God's purpose for my life, because I know I was created for His glory. I don't worry about figuring things out. I rest knowing that He is big enough to direct my path in the way He wants me to go because He is the One who said that I was created for His glory!

If I acknowledge Him in all my ways - He promises to direct my path!

Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I can rest in knowing the HE is the ONE who began a good work in me - and He is able to finish it!

Philippians 1:6 KJV - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

Today I realize that my relationship with the Lord is all about rest and trusting in the One Who created me with His purpose - which is to bring Him glory!

Until next time!

The Lord bless and keep you!

Pastor Linda Cross
www.CFCLakeville.com