Life Pupose Statement

I think I'm making this too difficult.

I've already got my life purpose statement.

I want to live my life whole heartedly for God with Him in the driver's seat. I want my life to be consumed with loving God and loving people in ways that are real each and every day.

Basically I just try to be alert each day to opportunities. Lately I've also decided to periodically take some time out and away from the daily; time with God. Time to review my life and see if there are any things getting in the way of my loving God and people. Time to seek how God wants me to respond to any barriers.

Oh Father, I continue to pray for guidance in the area of ministry. Thank You for showing me that my sons and husband are my first ministry and showing me ways to love - be patient and kind toward them, on a daily basis. Show me any other things You want from me. May my life be completely Yours.

Working on my Life Purpose Statement

I want to live my life whole heartedly for God with Him in the driver's seat. I want my life to be consumed with loving God and loving people in ways that are real each and every day.

So how do I do that?

I'm just going to brainstorm here:

• Every morning start my day with God. Spend time praising Him, loving on Him.
• Throughout the day keep my eyes open for blessings in my life and appreciate all the blessings and thank God for them.
• Throughout each day keep my eyes open for practical ways I can extend love to others. It can be super little things like letting the guy behind me who just has a couple of items go ahead in front of me when shopping at the grocery store. The main thing is just keeping my eyes open for opportunities so I won't miss them.
• Keep in focus the why of the tasks of daily life. This includes things like cooking great food for my sons, keeping the house clean and a pleasant atmosphere, laundry, etc. The main thing here is perspective - it's not just dull, routine tasks, it's with the purpose of loving God via obedience to do my best where I am at in life and loving my husband & children in very practical ways.

I would love to find a "ministry" that exemplifies this. I know Sheila wants me to do women's ministries but I'm not so sure if that would not just be busy vrs helping/loving people.

Oh heavenly father, show me what You want me to do. I want to help hurting people and give them love. Yet here I am in this idyllic little mountain town (but I know there are hurting people everywhere). Just show me what to do. I feel like my life is so much about my comfort and pleasure right now; which is great and I appreciate it. But I want to make the most of my time and do not believe that I'm doing that right now. You knew before all time that I would be out of work right now - what do You want me to do? Please help me hear Your voice and know it is You and be obedient. Thank You Father.

Week 7 memory verse

Ephesians 5:15-17
Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Here's the reason for wanting to put together a life purpose statement.

Life purpose statement - starting the process

Chapter 7 is about living our lives with focus. Dillow talks about having a life statement of purpose. God's timing is, as always, so good. Lately the pastor has been speaking on what do you want to do with you life, talking about how if we do not know where we are going we can not know when we arrive. Dillow gives 4 women and their life purpose statements as examples; I really like it because they are each very different from one another in their approach. The main similairty is that each of these women want to totally all out live for God; but each of them have a unique angle on it.

But each of them has one or more verses connected with their purpose so I want to start there. I have always said that the passage in Matthew 22:37-40 is what I want my life to be all about. Here's that passage in NLT:

³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Oh Father thank You for being involved in my life. Thank You for saving me and bringing me to Yourself. Thank You for Your grace and mercy that You don't give up on me. Help me to life wholeheartedly, every day for You. May my life be totally Yours. Help me to love You and Love people every day in ways that are real. Help me find a way that will be useful to this end to write out a life purpose statement.

Prayer during week 6

Oh Father, like the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:23-24; Search me, and know my heart. Test me, cross examine me and know my thoughts, point out if there is anything wrong in me and lead me along Your paths. I especially pray this with regard to my money. I'm so grateful that You let me grow up learning the evils of debt and to be financially responsible. I thank You for all the blessings this has brought me. But now I'm asking You - show me if I should be giving more. Show me if there is a pattern or specific instance where You want me to give money (or more money). Show me if I own something that You want me to give away. Show me if there is a specific way you want me to utilize my time. Oh Father, I want my life to be Your way. Yet I know the greed and sin lurking in my heart; so please help that part of me that does not want Your way all the way. May my life please You. Thank You for Your goodness to me.

Constant battle

I keep realizing as I'm doing this experiment in gratitude that I have a tendancy toward the negative and to complain.

I never would have thought of myself as a complainer. I would have described myself as a positive person. But, since the experiement calls for me to not gripe, grumble or complain for a week it's made me more conscious of how naturally I do these things. There are so many day to day events which can bring this out - or I can consciously choose to refrain and to use my words to praise God or encourage others.

Oh Heavenly Father, I'm so sorry for how negative I've been. Thank You so much for Your grace and forgiveness. Holy Spirit, please rise up big in me and empower me to do what I can not do on my own. May I refrain from negative speech and consistently become a person who uses my words to bring priase to You and encouragement to others. Help me see and choose wisely Lord. Thank You for working in my life.

Week 6 memory verses

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."



Psalm 119:14
I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

Experiment in Gratitude

As I am reading through the 6th chapter I come upon a sub section where Linda Dillow suggests that the reader conduct an experiment. It really struck me so I'm going to do it.

Her challenge is for 1 week make a conscious effort to be thankful; really work on practicing Philippians 4:8 and ask God to develop in me an attitude of gratitude. Then keep a notebook (which I'll do here) and write down what happens during the week. During this week determine not to ask for anything, not to gripe, grumble or complain about what I wish I had. During this week share with the people in my home why I'm thankful for them as well as others in my life.

Dillow ends the section with a good point:

"Remember, if you're upset by what you don't have, you waste what you do have."