Purpose: Even as a Brick

A few years ago a book came out called "Purpose Driven Life" that swept the nation. It may still be very popular among people. I have read the book and taught the material a couple of times. It is a good book.

Part of the point of the book lies in the title - purpose. Trying to find a purpose in your life. Being a person without purpose is like a ship without a rudder. You really have no steering mechanism to take you to a particular spot. You go on with life but that is really all you're doing...just going.

Sunday, we looked at this idea of purpose. Not from the book I previously mentioned, but just thinking about our, individual purposes. Even within that, it wasn't nailed down what your purpose was versus the person sitting near you, but just the fact that you have purpose.

We focused on a brick. Some feel a brick, by itself, would not hold much of a purpose, but we focused on togetherness and working together for a greater purpose. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

Being Involved ~ I just saw a portion of one of my kids' cartoons the other day where one of the characters wanted to complete a task by themselves. They were allowed, but part way into the project, the character came into some trouble. They needed help. Much like you and I, we need others to help us get through life and any "trouble" we may fall in. Being involved will help us get to know people and them us, so we can be a great force for Him.

Reduce the Load ~ As Jesus tells us to "go out" to the ends of the earth, when we are committed to the cause and each other it will reduce the weight of the responsibility and allow us to be more productive in the meantime.

What a Structure ~ When you look at a pile of bricks, they aren't that impressive. But when you look at a structure - building, road, wall - it can be very humbling. When you work together with your fellow believers, it can create something that is really awesome! Work together and see what awesome structure you can create!

Teamwork ~ Most of you have heard the phrase "there's no "I" in team." We must keep in mind that we work together as an individual to make the team that much stronger. There is power in every person that is involved.

Maybe there are days that you feel like a "brick." Small, insignificant bricks will turn around in a brief second to make something incredible. What will you create or team up with someone else to demonstrate your purpose(s)?

Crushed...for Purpose

When was the last time you considered being crushed? Was it as a result of a friend's action? Was it because you didn't get what you wanted? Or something in between? When we normally think of the word "crushed" it is normally a bad thing. However, let's think of how it can be for the positive. That brings us to this week's quote...

The heart, like the grape, is prone to delivering its harvest in the same moment it appears to be crushed. ~ Roger Houseden

Being crushed can be used for good. Think about these examples: Peanuts become peanut butter. Apples become apple sauce. Tomatoes become tomato sauce. Grapes become grape juice. Rock becomes concrete. Wheat becomes flour. All those secondary products become useful for something else.

As you are crushed in life, how will your heart create a secondary product that is just as good, if not better then what you were prior to being crushed? The unfortunate part is that you don't know what the product will be until it is crushed. We don't welcome the crushing, but we see what we can do after the crushing.

A crushed grape may look ruined, but rather is just being used for another purpose. A crushed spirit may seem ruined, but it can be used for another purpose, maybe greater than before!

This extra quote helps make the point...

"Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length;
Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond strength;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.
Pressure by foes, and a pressure from friends.
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

"Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured."
by L.B. Cowan

Have a fantastic rest of your week!

Reminding myself that I can be crushed and useful...