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Purpose

What We Live For

by TerryLema

Last Sunday Pastor Jerrod brought a message out of Psalm 91. He titled it “The Secret Place,” drawn from the first verse. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” [NKJV]

The message was full of truth as Pastor Jerrod took verse by verse, pointing out so many wonderful promises of God to those who “dwell” in God’s protection. The church rang with “Amens!” so it must have been something we all needed.

He said one thing that ministered to me. We have a purpose—to love and be loved by God. That is what we were created for.

Among all the wonderful truths and promises pointed out, I think that stood out the most Sunday morning because of what I had heard just an hour before. Bob had on a news broadcast before we left for church. One story was about an actor who died this week. It ended with the actor saying, “Acting was my life.”

The second story was an interview with another personality. He said several times that “woodworking is my life.”

If we were asked what our life is all about, I wonder how we would respond. I was reminded this morning that this life is truly about one thing – to love and be loved by God. To dwell in that “secret place” of the Most High.

Amen.

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Reason for This Season

by TerryLema

It is January, the beginning of the new calendar year (a new season). Many of us make “resolutions,” or at least think about some things we might want to begin or do differently this year. Eat better, exercise more, save money are often at the top of people’s lists.

I no longer make resolutions. Why set myself up for failure at the beginning of the year? Instead, I try to simply remind myself of what is just as important this year as last … or just be aware that every day can be a new challenge or a new adventure, depending upon my viewpoint.

I do know one thing that this new year (new season) holds. I have a reason to get up every morning, even on those mornings when I might be tired or hurting.  That reason in this season is the same as the reason for the “holiday season.”

My reason to get up every morning is so the world can see Jesus in my life!

Whatever we face in whatever season, we know that God is still with us. We know we are not alone. We know that we have been called to be children of God. We know that we have a reason to get up each day and a reason to thrive, not just survive.

The world apart from God is without hope. As believers, it is our privilege to model Christ Jesus to others. We may not know where to begin, but if we ask, God will give us opportunities to show the love of His Glorious Son to others.

That’s a lot of incentive to get up each day! Amen

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His Purpose For Me

by TerryLema

I remember when I was first saved. The very first Scripture verse I memorized was Philippians 1:6: “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” [HCSB]

I memorized that verse but was not in the least sure that God could actually do what was promised. Still, I clung to it, hoping that He could take a very broken life and turn it into something for His glory.

I wonder as I read that verse now if Paul remembered what David wrote in Psalm 57. “I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.” [HCSB]

David wrote that when he was fleeing from King Saul. Maybe he too wondered if God could actually do what was promised.

Well, God did complete His promise to David, and David became King of Israel. And I can see that God is fulfilling His promise to me also. He started a work in me, and I can see that over the past five decades He has been carrying it on. I have the promise that one day that work will be completed.

One day I will stand in the presence of my LORD and God will smile at me. I think He might say something like, “I told you I would do it, and I did. Welcome home, child.”

Thank you, LORD. Today I focus not on the on-going struggle, but on the promise that You will one day bring this work in me to completion. Thank you for Your purpose for my life. Amen

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It Looked Just Fine

by TerryLema

The Saturday before Easter I decided the house just had to be cleaned. The kitchen floor was sticky, the carpet needed vacuumed and there was dust on every surface.  Bob usually vacuums and I usually dust and mop, only for some reason we decided to switch that morning. He mopped floors and I vacuumed.

I was halfway through one room when I noticed that the vacuum kept spitting back a small piece of paper over and over.  I decided to check what was wrong – the dust collector was empty, and the brushes had been moving just fine. The motor was running loudly like always. The carpet even looked like it had been hit with a vacuum.  Still that one piece of paper kept reappearing.

Further investigation determined that the vacuum had lost its vacuum. It no longer sucked up the dirt, dust, or debris.  It just ran over the carpet and redeposited all that back into the carpet.  I wondered how long it had been that way. How often did Bob use it without noticing that it wasn’t actually cleaning anything?  After all it made all the right noises, left all the right brush ridges in the carpet.  It looked just fine, except … except it had lost its primary purpose.  It’s a vacuum, it’s supposed to vacuum!

That made me wonder about our primary purpose.  What is it? Have we lost sight of it?  The OT is clear that we are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”  [Deuteronomy 6:5 HSCB]

Jesus added one other component. He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”  [Mark 12:30 HCSB]

I often remind us of God’s love for us with its unconditional and “unstoppable” attributes (as Pastor Laura from The Way Middleton reminded us on Easter Sunday).  It is important for our spiritual well-being to remember God’s love.  It is also vitally important to remember our primary purpose – to love God with all, ALL, our heart, soul, strength, and mind. That is what we were created to do.

I will admit I sometimes lose sight of that with everything going on around me on a daily basis.  And when I do, I may look just fine on the outside, but inside I’m like that broken vacuum that seems fine but is not doing what it was designed to do.

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A Ring and a Crown!

by TerryLema

I watched this last Super Bowl game. Loved the game. Not so thrilled with the halftime. And as a disclaimer, yes, I am not thrilled with the organizations or politics behind most professional sports. I am however, enthralled by some of the backstories behind the men and women who play the sports.

This year’s Super Bowl had a myriad of backstories. Matthew Stafford, No. 1 draft pick in 2009 by the Detroit Lions never won a playoff game before coming to the Rams this year. Now he’s won a Super Bowl.

Van Jefferson who caught a number of Stafford’s passes found out at the end of the game that his wife left the stadium in labor. She made one request to the Rams before the Super Bowl: if she goes into labor during the game, do not tell her husband until afterward.

But the backstory that enthralled me was that of MVP of the game, Cooper Kupp. Kupp and his wife are strong, dedicated Christians. They live their lives for Christ Jesus. Kupp was on the losing side of a Super Bowl the last time the Rams played. God gave him a vision as he left the field in defeat. Here are his words: “God revealed to me that we were going to come back, we were going to be part of a Super Bowl, we were going to win it. And somehow I was going to walk off the field as the MVP of the game.”

Kupp told one other person about that vision. What God revealed to him is exactly what happened. But Kupp had more to say, “It was written already and I just got to play free, knowing that I got to play from victory, not for victory. I got to play in a place where I was validated not from anything that happened on the field but because of my worth in God and my Father.”

 He added, “I think the thing that He has taught me is that you will find that you are most fulfilled, you will find the most joy, when you are rooted in your purpose, and specifically rooted in His purpose for you. That, to me, has been one of the best things about this year.”

Kupp has said that one of his favorite Bible passages is 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, which reads: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

 The glitter on that Super Bowl ring will fade, but that Crown (!), it will last forever! Amen.

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Perspective

by TerryLema

Cheslie Kryst’s cause of death has been confirmed following an autopsy; the former Miss USA’s death has been ruled a suicide. She was 30 years old. She became Miss USA in 2019, already an attorney with an MBA. In an essay she wrote in 2021 she said, “turning 30 feels like a cold reminder that I’m running out of time to matter in society’s eyes — and it’s infuriating.”

That statement is one of the saddest statements I have ever read. It is a condemnation of our society that our young people think anyone over 30 no longer matters. No wonder our younger people are struggling.

The Bible has a far different perspective of growing old. The Bible often associates growing old with gaining wisdom. For example, Proverbs 16:31 says, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” 

I turned 75, three-quarters of a century, last December. I also retired from full-time ministry. Most of the time now people ask me, “How are you enjoying retirement?”

I do not know how to answer that question. I do not know if I am enjoying retirement. My body is not the best, so I have reached the end of being able to be accountable for a ministry. Still, I do not feel as if I am done with ministry.

The Bible also has a perspective on purpose.  “I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.” and “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.” [Psalm 57:2, Psalm 138:8 HCSB]

The LORD God Almighty has a purpose for every life. I do not feel that I have fulfilled that purpose completely as yet. I do not know how many more years I will have to do so, but I know I will continue to discover what He still has for me and will continue to fight for the stamina and wisdom to finish the race.

Dear LORD, help us to convey to the young that they are only just beginning to find and fulfill their God-given purpose. Amen.

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Grace for a Purpose

by TerryLema

There is one last thought from Titus that I want to focus on this morning.  It closes out the paragraph that began in chapter 2:11. That last thought is “He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.” [2:14 HCSB]

Over the last couple days, we have seen that grace appeared (epiphainó) and was clearly shown in Christ Jesus. Grace instructs us so that we might develop Christ-like character. Grace strengthens us to wait for the return of Christ Jesus.

Christ redeemed and cleansed us for His own possession. He made us children of God, no longer bound by the chains of sin and fear of death. And while that is wonderful, it is not the end, but the beginning. The grace that Christ Jesus brought to us also gives us a purpose and zeal. The purpose is good works. The zeal is the eagerness to do them.

Eager. I like that word. One definition I read resonated with me … “waiting with bated breath.”

I remember waiting with bated breath for a bike for Christmas when I was eight. I did not think I would get it because it was not my year to get the “big” gift, it was my brother’s. I was pretty sure I would get a doll instead, but still I was eager for Christmas. My brother got a bike but hidden behind the tree was a big surprise. Somehow my parents found the money to get a bike for me also.

I also remember waiting with bated breath to get married, to turn 21, and for the birth of each of my children. I remember many times in life I have waited with bated breath.

Paul reminds us that now, as God’s precious children, we are to be eager – waiting with bated breath – for the next thing He asks of us.

Oh, LORD, give us that child-like eagerness to do Your good works. Amen and Amen.

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Great is the LORD!

by TerryLema

Ps 145:3-5: “Yahweh is great and is highly praised; His greatness is unsearchable. One generation will declare Your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts. I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty and Your wonderful works.” [HCSB]

Psalm 145 is a praise song of David. It seemed fitting to me that we should read this song today and do what it says in verse 5 … “I will speak [meditate] on God’s wonderful works.”

I was blessed yesterday to be back in church after five weeks dealing with COVID. I so missed the Family of God!

Is the church in America what she should be? No. But making no excuses, I will remind us that the church has often not been what she should be. And still, God. God has fought for her attention and has cured her over and over of her sin.

He has provided the rain of His Spirit when she was dry. He has blanketed her in a spirit of holiness when she was devoured by the world. He has overpowered her sin and arrogance with His love and grace, drawing her to a time of repentance. We call that revival.

I agree with David, no one can fully fathom God’s greatness. We simply experience it and commend it to others.

We have a choice on what we meditate on today. We can focus on all that is wrong, and there is plenty of that to fill our thoughts. Or, we can focus on the greatness of the LORD. We can speak to others of His mighty acts and spread the praiseworthiness of our God.

I choose today to do the latter. My God is able … My God has a purpose … My God, my God, is glorious in majesty and has all power. My God will fulfill His purpose for His church. On that I rest my hope.

Thank you, Father, that You have called Your church for Your purpose. Amen

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Restoration & Purpose

by TerryLema

The words and thoughts found in Psalm 23 have been playing on a loop through my mind while I sleep.  Psalm 23 is so familiar. We hear it often in many settings, but perhaps most often when we need comfort such as at funeral services or hospital settings. I know I have quoted it at many celebration of life services.

But Psalm 23 has much to say to us at other times of life. As I drifted off to sleep last night, it was verse 3 that came to mind (and stayed there through the night).

Psalm 23:3: “He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.” [HCSB]

The LORD renews our life … other translations render it, “The LORD restores my soul.”

The word “renews” or “restores” means “to turn back, return.” The LORD returns our soul to what it is meant to be! Wow!  He set us back to our “heavenly factory defaults.”

But our LORD does more than just turn our souls back to what they are meant to be, He also gives us purpose. He leads us in righteousness “for His name’s sake.”

We cannot survive without purpose. To live without purpose is to have no goals, nothing to aim for, nothing to strive for. We need to know that we are made for, meant for, something greater and higher than our own selfish desires.

The LORD, JEHOVAH, YAHWEH, the Great Almighty Eternal God, gives us the purpose of knowing Him, loving Him, serving Him … Can there be a greater purpose found anywhere in this universe? I think not.

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