Reflection

The last 3 days have been very tiring for me. On Saturday (3/5) my van decided to spontaneously combust. Even worse my wife had to drive it to work that day (usually she would drive her car, but we had to take her's in to get repairs). She stopped by the office to print off some surveys for the program she was putting on. Within the 5 minutes she was inside printing the van caught on fire. The thing is the night before she debated even making a survey for the program; thank God she did. I can only imagine what would have happened if the van would have caught on fire while she was driving. Of course we saw this as a blessing. Yeah, my van was gone but at least my wife came away without a scratch (I can get a new car, I cannot get a new Jackie).

However, the blessings did not stop there. When we went to go take care of the van everything seemed to fall into place. I did not sleep well the night before because I worried about all the red tape and $$$ I would be spending. We did end up having to spend some money on storage and towing fees but when we went to scarp the van we recouped that money and then some. We got back almost as much as we paid for it. When it was all said and done, saying bye to the van was fairly quick and painless. 

The rest of the day we spent getting back Jackie's lost ID and bank cards that was consumed by the fire (she left her purse in the car). We also almost got side-swiped by a semi as we where driving on the expressway. The truck ended up in are lane and I ended up on the shoulder of the expressway feet away from the guardrail of the upcoming bridge (at this moment I was filled with a mix of fear and rage). When we got home we checked the mail and what did we find...? A wedding gift of $200. Our wedding was 3 months ago! With that check we made back all the money we spent buying the van. 

At that moment it hit me like a ton of rocks, and I just started to cry (I was very overwhelmed). At this moment I cannot really tell you why, because the truth is I truly do not know why. My best guess is that it was a mix of lossing some personal items in the van, being thankful Jackie was ok, and of all the wonderful things that came out of the situation. I am thankful for my wonderful wife, because even as she was trying to process why the heck I was crying she was there for me and stayed clung to me until my eyes were dry. God truly is good.

Day 8: Planned for God's pleasure

Point to Ponder: I was planned for God's pleasure.

Verse to Remember:

"The Lord takes pleasure in his people" Psalm 149:4a (TEV)

Question to Consider:

Q. What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus?

A. Well I think the one common task I am doing right now is reading this book. It is kind of a daily devotion, but more geared to what my life's purpose is; which also is for Jesus. I think that loving my wife could be a daily task I do for Jesus. I always love my wife and I always show and tell her I love her. I think that love is the greatest gift Jesus gave us and by showing my love for my wife it reflects that gift. One of the things I struggle with is daily pray. It is an area in my life I have begun to work on in depth. To tell you the truth my wife has been my strongest supporter in this endeavor. She is my earthly Rock.

Day 7: The reason for everything

Point to Ponder: It's all for him

Glory be to God

Verse to Remember:

"For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory." Romans 11:36 (LB)

Question to Consider:

Q. Where in my daily routine can I become more aware of God's glory?

A. This is a great question, and the answer is everywhere in my daily routine. I have to find God's glory in my daily drive, like when I get angry because someone cut me off or as I listen to the radio and hear the annoying news about Lindsay Lohan. This is just one example, but there are many many many different examples I can think of.

Day 6: Life is a temporary assignment

Point to Ponder: This World is not my home

Verse to Remember:

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

Question to Consider:

Q. How should the fact that life on earth is just a temporary assignment change the way I am living right now?

A. I think that I have to live for more then tomorrow. As every day comes and goes I truly feel like God is with me. Protecting me and guiding me along my way.

Day 5: Seeing life from God's view

Point to Ponder: Life is a test and a trust


Verse to Remember:

"Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones." Luke 16:10a (NLT)

Question to Consider: 

Q. What has happened to me recently that I now realize was a test from God? What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me?

A. One of the most recent test I have underwent was when I had to leave my wife for a week and a half. It was very very hard for me. We have only been married for few months, and I felt so bad leaving her for that time. In fact it has been one of the hardest things I have done. I think what it showed me is that I need to be at home with my family, I have dreamed of a career as a Speaker or a Missionary, but I think that I am suppose to find a job where I can come home every night to my family but also a find a job where I can help people and change there lives.

Day 4: Made to last forever

Point to Ponder: There is more to life than just here and now.

When I first read this point I thought... well duh, you have to plan for the future. You have to plan for things like career paths, kids, retirement and whatever else life may have in store for you. But when you look at the statement in a deeper light, you see its true context... HEAVEN!!!

Verse to Remember:

"This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever." 1 John 2:17 (NLT)

Question to Consider:

Q. Since I was made to last forever, what is the only thing I should stop doing and one thing I should start doing today?

A. I think one of the things I have to do is truly live for beyond tomorrow. I have to stop just living for the next day and focus on my next life.

Day 3: What drives your life?

Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to peace.

This is really a simple point to ponder, when you finally find your purpose in life you can find happiness and peace in your life. 

Verse to Remember:

"You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you" Isaiah 26:3 (TEV)

Question to Consider: 

Q. What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?

A. My friends and Family would answer this question in just a few short words, they would say that my driving force is to change the world. During my undergard experience I was all about volunteering my time to help change this or help change that. Lately my driving force has shifted more towards my wife and developing are new family and creating a strong foundation to build our lives on. What I want is to be able to make a physical and mental difference in the world. I want to end hate, I want to promote a world where we love our neighbor and celebrate our differences. Matthew 22:36-40 tells us that loving your neighbor is one of the greatest commandments second only to loving God with all your heart. This verse is what I want my driving force to echo. 

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-4 (NIV)

Day 2: You are not an accident

Point to Ponder: I am not an accident

When the opening line to this chapter stated "you are not an accident" I had to laugh. My parents would never tell you that I was an accident, in fact I know my Mom would tell you that I was a blessing (and on most days she would say I still am ;D). However, the truth is I was not a planned child. The funny thing about it all is that if I was never given life how different would the people around me be? My mom, my dad, my sisters, my wife, my friends and even people that do not really care for me. My life is truly a God event, a miracle in its own right.

Verse to remember:

"I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born" Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)

Question to Consider:

Q. I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?

A. Wow! What a question. One area of my personality that I struggle with is that not everyone is going to love me and my personality. I want to be liked and loved. I have a hard time not being accepted and liked. I am a social man, I am a caring man, I am a man that loves life and I truly want to share my life with everyone... I have to understand that I will not be liked by everyone. My biggest struggles in life stem from my background. I have a problem with forgiveness. As a young Christian this is an obvious problem. The truth is I just do not want to be hurt again by the people that hurt me so deeply in the past. This next statement  will most likely sound very conceited but I truly love my physical appearance. I spent so much time as a young adult hating the way I looked and my rough middle school experience helped me to grow into loving who I am today.

Day 1: It all starts with God

Point to Ponder: It's not about me

The first line of chapter one is "It's not about you", a hard pill to swallow but a message that is meant to hit home. My life is not about me me me. It is about SO much more. It is about my wife and my family, but most importantly is is about God and his will.

Verse to Remember:

"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible... everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him" Colossians 1:16 (MSG)

Question to Consider:

Q. In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?

A. I think that I have to look and find God in everything I see. I have to look and see God in that billboard or TV show. It sounds silly to say, but if you look hard enough you can truly see God in everything. Some things are harder then others; however, it is easy to see God in my wife or my young nephews and baby niece. When I live my life for my family it becomes easier to live for God because I can see God shining in my life through them.

My Purpose Driven Life

The last few months have been an amazing whirlwind of new adventures. In December I left the comfort of Central Michigan University (my home for the last 6 years), only to start my new wonderful life with my amazing new wife. I then started a new adventure with a new company called the National Relief Network, this move helped to fill a passion that was ignited early on in my CMU tenure; helping others. To top it off in just a few short weeks I will be receiving a Bachelors Degree of Applied Arts (a miracle in its own right).  With all these big changes in my life I find myself lost within my own head.

Lately the question has been on my mind... What do I want to do with my life?

Furthermore, lately I have been asking what am I meant to do? I am a man with very strong faith in God. I truly believe that God has a purpose for me and my life.

So when I started to discuss my life, and my not so clear future career path with my family, I was handed this book called "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. The book is meant to help facilitate a 40 day self reflection on what my purpose in life is within God's master plan.

So why am I writing a blog about this? The truth is I am doing it for a couple reasons. The first is that I need help. I sometimes have a problem with follow-through. My hope is that by updating this blog on a daily basis, I will be able to complete my task because I have an audience keeping tabs on me. The second is that I hope to possibly inspire someone else to look deep within their own self and find their purpose in life.