My Passion....His Purpose

On a parenting board I frequent, a mom posted that she was struggling trying to find her purpose...finding that "thing that makes your heart sing." I thought about this for a couple of days actually before I responded. I had to ask myself what *my* passion and purpose were.

I am a nurse and a lactation consultant. That is what I do. It's what I've always done. I take care of babies and mothers. I go to deliveries, I start IV's, I help get breastfeeding established and encourage moms to continue breastfeeding....I breastfed my own kids for years. Years, I tell ya! I am a firm believer in the power of the ta-ta's.

But if you asked me what my passion was....that thing that makes my heart sing? I'd say it was writing and teaching women. I haven't done any teaching or speaking since we left Mississippi. In many ways, our days here in New Orleans have been rather dry, spiritually speaking (which is ironic since we are at seminary). Prior to coming here, I taught a women's Sunday school class, led women's Bible study, and spoke at MOPS meetings and other women's fellowship gatherings. That is who I am. That is where I felt the most alive and purposeful.

Purposeful.

Psalm 57:2 says "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me."

His purpose.

Psalm 138:8:"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord , endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."

His purpose.

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand". ~ Proverbs 19;21

The purpose of the Lord.

Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

I believe God has gifted each of us with different skills, talents, and abilities. And it is up to us to determine what they are and what to do with them. For instance, I have promised myself that I will write more. While I am incredibly lucky to get paid to be a nurse, I think God has been leading me to do more to encourage women. To tell them that God has given them all the tools to be the woman that He designed them to be. Don't we all need to hear that and really digest it?

I would love, love, LOVE to go to this conference this year. I would adore the opportunity to learn how to be a more effective communicator to women. I entered a contest to win a scholarship to it.  With 3 small kids, a husband, and a job, it's difficult to find the extra money or time to do anything for myself, so the mere idea of a few days away...with just other women who share the same passion as me....sigh.....

But I digress.

My challenge for you today is to take a look at your heart and decide what it is that God is leading you to do. And then to bravely, courageously, follow through. He has given you everything you need.

Now it's up to you.