Why Am I Here Anyway?

We hear many sermons and talks about why God put us here at this time and in this space. Here’s what His Word says: “Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and WE EXIST FOR HIM…..”; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and WE EXIST THROUGH HIM.” (1 Corinthians 8:6). So there you go. The answer to “Why am I here anyway?” Maybe it’s better asked: “WHO am I here for anyway?” We exist for God.

Doesn’t that make you feel no longer “ordinary”. You and I are extraordinarily God’s very own creation – existing for Him. So, when another ordinary Monday rolls around and you’re loading up the kids, their backpacks and their lunches into the car or you are heading off for your morning commute to your office job, or you are facing another week of medical tests, doctor’s appointments and treatments, or you are studying for that exam that will make or break your grade average – you wonder “Is there more than all that working and studying and the going and the doing?”

This life may feel so big and we may struggle to find our place in it. We may wonder if we matter. We try to find a purpose for our being. The reality is we are not only made for a purpose; we are made for a Person. We are made for the Miracle-Worker, Chain-Breaker, Water-Walker, the Stars and Planets Creator, the Man-Sculptor who brought us forth from dust. We are made for the One who holds all the world in His hands.

And “We exist through Jesus” (1 Cor 8:6), the One who made it possible for us to make our way home to our Most Awesome God, Who laid down His life that we might find ours. We also live by the Spirit. What a TEAM! Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We are empowered, equipped, strengthened and comforted. We are never, ever alone.

What does this mean in the middle of our routine and ordinary days? It means that our car can be a holy place of joy to the Lord. It means our sink full of dishes can be an altar of praise to our Most High. It means our office can be a sanctuary as we acknowledge the One that we are here for. Imagine the joy it brings to Him, when we acknowledge Him.

Wherever you are today, whatever your routine might be, whether or not you feel noticed, this is the message of God: “You are loved. You are mine. You matter. I see you." This is the truth I’m taking with me each day. We were made for not only a purpose but for a Person – the One who has brought me into this world for Himself. There is no greater calling. There is no more glamorous career. There is no higher glory. We are His. He is ours. This is enough reason to exist for a lifetime…and eternity.

Leaving Behind Faith Footprints

On Thursday, a dear uncle graduated to heaven and, of course, thoughts go to the precious memories we made together, as well as the legacy and the footprints he left for us to follow. He was a beautiful soul, but most impactful, was his last year and a half where he lovingly, tenderly and devotedly cared for his very ill wife. None of us thought he would graduate to heaven before she did, but God knew, as His plans always one-up any that we may have.

As, I drove to Dallas yesterday, and in my quiet space of thought and prayer, I started thinking about MY faith footprints -- the imprints and effect that my time on this earth might have. Surely, we should be working as diligently to make our faith footprints as large as we can, so we really do make a difference in as many lives as we possibly can, while we're still on this side of heaven. We may think "How can I make a footprint so large when I am just so ordinary?" But, God uses "ordinary" people to do extraordinary things. Sam Walton....was a very poor farm boy; Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty; King David....was just a shepherd boy; Jesus....was a carpenter. And you and I are on this earth, today, regardless of our background.....to leave behind faith footprints for others to follow.....I'm determined to make mine the biggest footprints that I can! How about you?