Wednesday, July 27, 2011

What a Homeless Man, Me, and John Piper have in common:



Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

I learn so much from my daughter.  This little 10 month old has so much to teach without even trying.  God uses her in so many ways to help me understand the things that He's been trying to teach me for, oh, about 28 years now.  


Last night my husband and I were praying together after we put her to bed.  When it was my turn to pray I found myself praying about her purpose.  I don't know where that came from, really, but the words just started spilling out of my mouth.  And as the words flowed from my mouth, the tears flowed from my eyes.  I realized that this is a topic that really strikes a cord for me.

Purpose.  You know, if you ask me, when it comes down to it I believe that's the one ingredient necessary for a healthy and meaningful life.  There is really nothing more important.  My prayer for this little girl is that she learns God's purpose for her life the moment she has the ability to understand what that even means. 

I want her to see that her purpose is so unique, so special, and so important.  I want her to understand that the God of this universe has a spotlight on her life and on her soul...she is His focus.  She is His love.  She is His life. 


I see so many teenagers and adults in my office that have never grasped their purpose.  They haven't even gotten a glimpse of it.  Not in their parent's eyes, not in the worlds eyes, and in turn, absolutely not in God's eyes.  For them, life is so broken, so painful, and so meaningless.  They don't understand that they have been created for significance.  They don't see that their life has indescribable value.  They don't fathom that God has plans for their life that are beyond what they could have ever hoped for.    

But, you see....that's the truth.  It's the God-honest truth.  It's the truth for my precious little baby, and it's the truth for my hurting clients.  It's the same truth for both the brilliant John Piper and for the homeless beggar that stands outside in the cold.  It's the same truth for you...and for me.

My prayer for you, precious reader- is that today, you catch a glimpse of His purpose.  Today, you see a glimmer of the great plans He has for your life.  Plans to give you hope.  Plans to give you a future.  Plans to take the joy that is in your life and use it for the encouragement of others.  Plans to take your seeds of suffering and pain and bring life to the dead world around you. 

Plans for you.  A purpose.  Will you receive it?

4 comments:

  1. What a wonderful reminder. Along these lines, I've just finished reading Henri Nouwen's "Life of the Beloved" and was taken by this passage:

    "As the Beloved Children of God we are called to become bread for each other—bread to the world.....the change from living life as a painful test to prove that you deserve to be loved, to living it as an unceasing “Yes” to the truth of that Belovedness. Put simply, life is a God-given opportunity to become who we are, to affirm our own true spiritual nature, claim our truth, appropriate and integrate the reality of our being, but most of all, to say “Yes” to the One who calls us the Beloved."

    And I keep thinking of the first statement in Westminster Confession: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." It is so radical to be loved by God and to live in that love.

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  2. Snacks,
    Beautiful quotes. I adore Henri Nouwen and his wisdom. Thanks again for reading and for having such insight. It's appreciated and welcomed any time.

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  3. Love these thoughts on identity, Deb. I so agree with you. I have a chance to speak at a Mom and Daughter retreat in October and look forward to sharing some thoughts from your blog in the one session. They echo what I've been preparing! Love you and am so excited to see the amazing ways God is choosing to use you - His yielded vessel

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  4. Thanks Brenda! I'm honored that you found something to share at your Mom and Daughter retreat! Thank you for your constant encouragement and love, and for being such a great example of a woman who has embraced her purpose and is living it out.

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