Good morning…

“What is my purpose?” we pray to God regularly. To help us understand the LORD’s answer, let me share with you a true life example appearing in my inbox yesterday.

A subscriber from Florida wrote: “Again, I am drawn to correspond with you, Sue, knowing full well how many of these replies you must get per day, and not wanting to add to your “work load,” I feel the need.

I have been searching for a volunteer opportunity here in little Mt. Dora, FL to take the place of Saddle Up (in Nashville) and Freedom Ride here in Central Florida, both therapeutic equine facilities for disabled children.

So, I have been searching for something to bring purpose to my life, offer help where needed and meet my age, 68, and physical stamina limits. Alive Hospice close to me here in Central Florida caught my eye and interest a week before the hurricane. I contemplated whether I could actually handle that and yet, remembered how much it meant to me and my sister as we nursed our mother to her death.

After that interruption, I received a magazine, Alive, from Alive Hospice in Nashville! What a surprise and a puzzle. And now, this morning, your devotional is about the enduring value of hospice care.

I’m saying it’s a God thing, and I’m going for it. Thanks for being a conduit in my process of decision making.”

Following the example set by this Florida subscriber, might God summons us through similar, identifiable steps?

  1. God sparks in us a search for meaning and purpose.
  2. We look to meet a need that blends well with our age and life stage.
  3. We notice any possibility catching our eye and our attention.
  4. We take time to contemplate, “Could I actually handle this ministry?”
  5. We sense God waking up memories, nudging new inklings.
  6. What surprises come our way?
  7. What surround-sound experiences repeat themselves?
  8. “It’s a God thing,” eventually dawns on us with more clarity.
  9. We decide to “go for it,” stepping forward into God’s invitation.
  10. We become God’s conduit in the lives of ordinary people.

He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], (2 Timothy 1:9, AMP).

…Sue…