live a life that matters...

“God is inviting us every day to live a life that matters.”

As I listened to my Pastor say these words this past Sunday my heart couldn’t help but be rocked. Living a life that matters…wow, doesn’t that just make you stop in your tracks for just a second? Or maybe it’s just me.

As much as I desire to live a life of purpose I’ll admit I struggle to always see my life being one that matters. I work…I raise my kids…I go to church…I hang out with friends and family…I shop, eat, drink, breathe…while all of these things and more flesh out a life being lived, most of these things don’t seem to lend themselves to living a life that matters, does it?

Doctors, Pastors, Counselors, Scientists…these individuals seem to live out lives of purpose. But me…I build maps and websites.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

I’m not looking for a pity party or anything…but what I am hoping is that maybe someone reading this blog entry might find themselves being familiar with my thoughts. I’m sure I can’t be the only one that at times feels like I’m on a boat floating through life instead of grabbing a paddle and rowing passionately towards purpose.

I feel like we all want more…just living or dare I say, existing, is never enough.

So how do we get to a place where we feel like our life matters? How do we accept this invitation from God to live a life of purpose?

Brothers and Sisters, I think the simplest thing to do but the hardest sometimes to act out is grabbing that paddle and getting to work. I learned from Justin and Trisha Davis over at Refineus.org a couple of years ago that we don’t find hope by just sitting in the boat and floating…we have to work towards hope…it doesn’t just happen to us. And I think the same applies for finding purpose in our lives. We can’t just sit and sulk about what could be…we need to act!

But Jeremy, you already mentioned how all you do is build maps and websites…you’ve already said your life doesn’t seem to compare to others who live differently. Knowing all that, how still do you live a life that matters?

Really, I think it’s just trusting that God can use us wherever we’re at in life…no matter our job or life circumstance…God can make our life matter…He’s just awesome like that.

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“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives ALL men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.”

–Acts 17 (the message)

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Did you catch the last line of this verse that I highlighted?

It says that God determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. If we believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow…and if we believe that Scripture is true and thousands of years ago God determined the time and place where people should live…doesn’t it just make sense that He is still doing the same thing today? In my life…in your life…is it too far-fetched to believe that we are exactly where God wants us right now in life?

I don’t think that’s too far-fetched to believe, just like I don’t believe it’s too far-fetched to believe that we truly can live a life that matters….right now…right where we’re at.

Just think about it…You could be exactly where God wants you to be…now all you have to do is trust that He has the bigger picture already figured out. All the little details that lead to that finished big picture is simply you and I choosing to work towards purpose…we can’t just sit around and wait for something to happen.

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“God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.'”

Acts 17 (the message)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzz-BdlItA4