Purpose

Do you ever wonder what you're doing this for? Anything you are doing that is eating away at the time you have been given in this life? Well, I started struggling with this question regarding working toward my master's degree. It is so time consuming and so draining at times, and for what? So I can have a piece of paper? So I can look better in the eyes of this education-driven society? So I can get a better job? So I can prove something? Is it worth it? And at this point I was asking, "Was it worth it?" Is this pleasing to God? Am I worshiping Him through this?

What is the point of a master's degree or doctorate's degree anyway? So we can get a job that will take up even more of our time later? Is this what we were made for? Is it really that important?

Maybe these thoughts were coming to me because I am going through a young life crisis, where I realized my 20's are leaving, and with it my youth. Who knows?! But whatever caused it does not matter...here's what I realized...

I don't know if it was worth ALL of the time I put into it, when I think about the things I wanted to do versus the things I was having to do (or in reality choosing to do). I wanted to spend more time at the homeless shelter; I wanted to spend more time creating new ministry projects that would help those in need and share the love of Christ to this hurting world; I wanted to do more with International Child Care Ministries; I wanted to bring change to the westernized church. Instead, I was spending every spare moment on homework, even when I knew I did not have to...I chose to because I am a perfectionist (or as my classmates would call me, an overachiever).

So here I was almost 2 years after starting this program, finally asking myself, "Why?"


Adopting is one of my biggest passions in this life. God gave me this passion and desire back in college...oh yeah, I'm still in college... well, back when I was 19 and in college. My husband and I both have a desire and passion to adopt our children. This degree could allow me to do one of my most important ministries in this life...raising my children. I can be a full-time mom and work some evenings or online as an adjunct professor.

This degree also helps with another passion of mine - helping with the homeless and orphans in this area and around the world. My undergrad and grad degrees are in organizational development and organizational management, I've been trained on how to help organizations survive and thrive and was even taught how to write successful grant proposals. See how this fits?

These degrees have trained and equipped me for public speaking (something I never thought I'd be comfortable with). They have trained me in project management, team building, true leadership and following, and teamwork. These will all help with other ministries I feel called to do.

I finally realized something, it was worth it only if I use it to the glory of God. I, like before, can choose how I spend my time on this earth. I can spend it on wasted degrees, careers, jobs, random pleasures, and living for the weekends, or I can use it to worship my Creator.

Was it worth it? We will find out, but I am counting on a yes. Is it worth it for you? That depends on why you are doing it, and what the results will be. Is it to glorify God or yourself? Is it to go from one busy schedule to the next and forget about the important things in this life, or is it to enable you to spend your time doing more meaningful things? Is it preparing you for the passions God has placed in your heart? And will/do you still have time to serve God now?

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Matthew 25:31-46

Tomorrow (March 13th) is Freedom Sunday. It is a day that churches from all over raise awareness and prayers to end human trafficking. I love that they are doing this, but my plea, my cry to the church is this:

WE ALREADY KNOW IT'S OUT THERE! We have the internet, we have television, we have eyes and ears, WE KNOW IT'S HAPPENING! But WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT? Don't waste time! Stand firm, don't back down, don't be afraid to say it like it is! God has given us the money and the means to put an end to this, brothers and sisters in Christ! He has given us the resources! Lay them down. GIVE. Put an end to this horrible crime against these children, these human beings, created in the image of the MOST HIGH GOD. WE CAN END THIS. Don't just say something about it, show sad pictures, or say a quick (or long) prayer about it, and walk away feeling righteous, or that you've done something to end this. ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING. Hear their cries!

Oh God, open our ears! Let us hear their cries! Let us not rest until they have been set free!

I have been convicted, and I pray you have too. It's easy to ask, "But what can I do? I'm a world away and don't have much." BUT EVERY PENNY COUNTS. Lay it all down on the alter and ask God to bless it, and multiply it, that these people will be set free! Every spare penny you have to give; lay it down.

There are many organizations out there to put an end to this through education, shelter, food, and love for these children. If you know of one you trust, donate it all to them. If you don't, ICCM (International Childcare Ministries) is a non-profit organization that is taking a stand to end human trafficking. They are trying to start a project in Thailand to provide that education, food, shelter, safety, and loving environment for the very kids who would otherwise be sold into slavery. This project is only going to cost $30,000. That's it. I can tell you that if they are successful, they will not stop there, they will do everything they can to stop human trafficking.

How many churches are in the US alone? How many people are within those churches? How much can a mega church get in one offering? $30,000 is not much. I don't have much to give, but if I give a little, you give a little, and someone else gives a little, it starts to equal a lot.

Thank you for bringing this up. Let's put a stop to this. Let us give to the least of these; the helpless children being forced into slavery without a voice. Without the right to say they are worth more than this.

Will the Master know me? Will He know you? When He looks at us, will he say, "‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’"

Those of you who know me well know that I have struggled with several heart problems ever since I was about 12. Things kept on getting worse over the years and my meds had changed over to heavy duty ones that had some not so fun side effects. To top it off if I missed them I would suffer for it greatly. I finally went to my doctor a month ago and said, "I just can't do this anymore, is there anything else to do than this?" Note: I was freaked out about saying that because he had previously told me that I might have to move up to a blood thinner if the last one didn't work. He agreed that I should be taken off, but said it would take a MONTH long process to get me off of it! Meaning a not so good month and gave me some strict instructions on how to get off this drug with as little problems as possible.
I had been praying for a while about this, telling God my struggle with all of it. God laid on my heart that scripture about the woman who just wanted to touch the edge of his garment and knew she would be healed. I talked to God a lot about that verse and just asked that He would touch me. Just one touch is all I need. Then I opened my Bible later and found John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." I prayed a lot about that. I started to feel better and better and was getting pretty excited about it.
This last Friday I went to my doctor and for reasons he can't explain I am finally OK! GOD HAS HEALED ME! I am finally off of all of the meds and am feeling GREAT for the first time in YEARS! When I got home I opened up my Bible and found that scripture about the lady and read: "Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment." Matthew 9:22
GOD IS AN ACTIVE GOD! Matthew 22:32 '"I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' He is not the God of the dead but of the living."