Rick Warren has become a bit famous for his book Purpose Driven Life. ‘A bit’ may be understating it!
I don’t think I’m letting any cat out of the bag when I say the writing was adequate but not great, nor the concepts new or radical. That being said, Warren clearly hit a deep longing to matter beyond mere filling of a schedule. God is a God of purpose and as image bearers, we have purpose.
If you are reading this blog, I have a feeling that you are the kind of person who is more than willing to go the extra mile if it is needed. But there is nothing more deflating than staying up late and putting in extra time on a project that was supposedly vital to the mission of your company, family, or volunteer organization only to have it filed away, never referred to again.
Seriously?! Talk about a waste of time and swimming in futility.
Even so-called mindless work can be of value if it is has purpose.
Can you imagine a place where everything (EVERYTHING) you do is needed, wanted, helpful, appreciated, part of a larger story and made a difference.
When it’s put in those terms, I’m confronted again how very Eden Lost my world is. And I often miss it. I forget that I was made for purpose. True purpose that will never be classified as busy work.
We’re not there yet, but let’s remember, Eden and purpose were to be ours. And will be. Amen and amen.
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Reminders: Love, satisfaction, extravagance, freedom, belonging, recreation, truth, trust, purity, submission and power, unity, kindness, blameless, with abandon, acceptance, celebration, faith, generosity, joy, purpose.
I think we all want to matter and we want what we do to matter as well. To not be appreciated is disheartening. I think it is good to be one who recognizes what others do and thank and compliment them on who they are as a person and the things they engage in. I think we all should have it as a goal to encourage someone everyday.
I appreciate who you are Amy and how you live your life. I think the things you have been involved in have already had an impact but I believe yours will be showing fruits for a long time in those lives you have worked with and touched.
It seems to me that because our God is a God of purpose there must be purpose in everything. We often don’t look deep enough to acknowledge that God has a purpose even if we don’t understand what it could possibly be. If we take the time to look we may get a glimpse of His specific or personal purpose for us, but His overarching purpose is always to do us good and to glorify Himself. The truth is that we all do matter and what we do matters as well. We just can’t see it so so much of the time. I doubt this on a daily basis but at the same time know it’s true. We need to remind ourselves and each other that God has a purpose for us and He will make sure it’s fulfilled. It’s just that sometime the only difference something we do makes is in ourselves. Even that can cause a difference in another person.
I sure hope you’ll put this in a book entitled Eden Lost so I can underline, make notes and keep it for future reference.
I had toyed with the idea, but wasn’t sure if people would be sick of the subject :)
There is a nothing more frustrating than to have someone pull the plug on a big project. I know. I’ve been there. And when it’s God pulling the plug, it’s even more frustrating. But he sees the big picture — the parade as it winds its way down the city streets. He knows where it’s headed and it’s my job to walk with joy in my heart and to trust.
There is a nothing more frustrating than to have someone pull the plug on a big project yes, yes, yes!
“Can you imagine a place where everything (EVERYTHING) you do is needed, wanted, helpful, appreciated, part of a larger story and made a difference?” Yes, yes, I can. Longing for Eden alongside you, friend.