The Purpose Driven Life

The Purpose-Driven Life
I saw this photo and I knew it would be my post for today, December 8th. It touched me so much as it reminded me of God's grand scheme to send His only begotten Son to this earth with the ultimate purpose of dying on a cross for you and me.....so that we could spend eternity with the WHOLE FAMILY of God! Now, that's what I call a "Purpose-Driven-Life".

God also created us with purpose and destiny. This day, in particular, is a huge reminder of that, because I'm celebrating the birth of my baby girl today. And, without a doubt, I know that God was "on purpose" in creating her, and He used her dad and I as vessels to raise her, pour His Word into her, and help direct her in her quests to fulfill her destiny.

I'm remembering the anticipation we had for the day when she would be born. Of all the names we thought about if we had a little girl.....we finally decided on Staci Michelle. Staci means "resurrection life" and Michelle means "close to God". While we had no idea what the future would hold....we knew God and, and we knew He guided us to that name. In so many ways, she brings resurrection life to so many she encounters, as she leads them to the ONE who replaces their fears, rejection, defeat, depression, darkness, pain, and indifference with a new life in Him.

I don't tell you this to impress you, but to impress upon you how important it is to calculate, ponder, pray for and get God's vision for your children. He had that vision for His Son. Would He expect less of us in casting vision for our children? Staci, being born in December, draws my attention to Gabriel's announcement to Mary in Luke 1:30 "And, behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and you will call his name Jesus." I love that Isaiah 9:6 even gave definition to His name before He was born, "And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

We were all born on purpose by God and FOR His purpose. We are not an accident. God planned the days of our life in advance. God had a plan in creating us and each of us was designed with a purpose in mind. God made us so He could love us.

On a final note about the names we give our children....what we name our children shouldn't be a mere conglomeration of letters that we put together as a convenient way to refer to them. God proved that when He named His son Jesus -- that name that is ABOVE all other names, that descibes His personality and gives interpretation of His character traits. He lived up to His name and it gives us hope, life, and blessing. Indeed, names are important! How awesome that His name is THE ONE like no other! How awesome is it that His purpose was wrapped up in His name that "at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord." Philippians 2:10

Celebrating THE NAME

I'm so grateful to be with my girl this weekend before her birthday on Monday (tomorrow).  One day isn't enough to celebrate her -- I need several days.  What a precious treasure she has been to me.

We already had a beautiful son who was 2-1/2, then it was almost time for our 2nd child to be born. Back in those days, most of us didn't know ...boy or girl... until they were born.

Even though I knew I would be thrilled with either (it was going to be Robert David if he had been a boy), I had a glimmer of hope that a little girl would be born to us.  I'll never forget my husband exclaiming...."Sweetheart, you've got your girl!"   How grateful I was then, and how grateful I am today that God gave me her.

I'm remembering the anticipation we had for the day when she would be born.  Of all the names we thought about if we had a little girl.....we finally decided on Staci Michelle.  Staci means "resurrection life" and Michelle means "close to God".  WOW!  God certainly guided us to that name, because she has been true to those definitions.  In so many ways, she brings resurrection life to just about everyone she encounters --  helping people experience a fresh new life from one of rejection, defeat, depression, darkness, pain, and indifference .....because she is so "close to God" and that closeness magnetically draws them closer to HIM.

I don't tell you this to impress you, but to impress upon you how important it is to calculate, ponder, pray for and get God's vision for your children, AND the name you give them.  He had that vision for His Son that gives us a perfect  example to follow.  Staci,  being born in December, draws my attention to Gabriel's announcement to Mary in Luke 1:30 "And, behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and you will call his name Jesus."   I love that Isaiah 9:6 even gave definition to His name before He was born,  "And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

What we name our children shouldn't be a mere conglomeration of letters that we put together as a convenient way to refer to them.  God proved that when He named His son Jesus --  that name that is ABOVE all other names, that descibes His personality and gives  interpretation of His character traits. He has lived up to His name and it gives us hope, life, and blessing.  Indeed,  names are important!   How awesome that His name is THE ONE like no other!