His Life Purpose!

A man's heart deviseth his way: 

but the Lord directeth his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

     Any former student, current student, or alumni through CollegePlus will recognize the "Life Purpose Statement" as one of the first life skills to earning his degree. But life purpose planning isn't just for CP students. Most people plan their life, create goals, define missions, and state values in some shape or form.

     A life purpose statement, as defined by CP, describes who you are or what you desire to be, who you are called to serve, and what you believe is needed by those who you feel called to serve. I actually wrote my LPS three times to date. I rewrote it the second time because I decided that my first attempt didn't include enough details, and then the third time I rewrote it, I wanted something that would encompass my whole life, rather than just specific aspects of it. And I'm satisfied with my last draft of it, now. ;)

     While there is much in my future that I do not know, my LPS is one that directs me back to my ultimate goal and passion: to serve the Lord with my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to encourage others to do the same with their life. Our Master will call each of us to different places, give us different passions, bless us with different gifts, and direct our steps in different directions. But I believe this should be the fundamental goal of each Christian is the same: to serve the One who called you, realizing that He gives you the strength to follow and obey His leading.

     My Life Purpose Statement:

As one who is called to bear the cross of Christ, I purpose to use my time, talents, and resources to impact others for His kingdom. (Luke 9:23) By serving, discipling, and challenging others to live boldly on the authority of Scripture, I will endeavor to counsel, mentor, and encourage other believers, so that they will be equipped to defend the truth to future generations. (1 Peter 3:15) 

"It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the common-sense basis."

~Oswald Chambers

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 
And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

~Mark 12:28-34 (KJV; emphasis mine)