Purpose vs. Ministry

I believe we all have the same common purpose; 
To bring God glory through our lives
by serving HIM
by leading souls into HIS kingdom 
through 
whatever ministry HE has blessed us with  


I think a lot of us are busy trying to figure out our "purpose"
When really we should be trying to figure out our "ministry"
We should be trying to figure out what avenue 
HE needs us as individuals to take in order fulfill our common purpose;
TO GLORIFY HIM


You're ministry is something God will confirm to you 
I believe it's something that your life experiences will prepare you for 
There has to be REAL/RAW testimony behind your ministry
There has to be an "I" in your ministry, not just a "you" 
How can you lead others to Christ without a testimony?

Exodous 9:16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you MY power and that MY name might be proclaimed in all the earth... what ministry is fitting to help you accomplish this?


Here I am below fulfilling my purpose through my ministry, Spoken Word. 

  

For Each Thorn Comes a Petal

The meaning of the word thorn is "source of continual irration or suffering/sharp spine on a stem".

Thorns come to distract and destroy
To torture
To take focus off the plans of God in your life

I wanted a specific thing so desperately
And when I finally got it,
At first, it looked and appeared so good
But because I accepted it in vain, 
Without seeking if that was exactly what HE wanted for me,
It ended up being a THORN
A sharp spine that caused irratioan and suffering

On the up side,
I thank God  for taking that thorn
And turning it into something good and pleasing to HIM
However; before things got better, they got worse
Out of that one thorn came many
A thorn of humiliation
A thorn of rejection
A thorn of abandonment
A thorn of depression
But as we know, at the top of a stem full of ugly, peircing thorns;
Is a beautiful rose
And for each thorn, a petal of that beautiful rose made up for it
A petal of joy
A petal of deliverance
A petal of restoration
A petal of renewed strength in God
I thank my God for turning my throrns into petals

Proverbs 15:19 The way of the sluggard is overgrown with thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him], but the way of the righteous is plain and raised like a highway.

The Purpose of Joy

Of course joy comes from our God.
Nothing and no one else can give it to us.
He is the source.
Why did He give us joy?
SO THAT OUR JOY CAN BRING HIM GLORY...

Joy is a choice
True joy can't easily be removed
It's not contingent upon your circumstances
It is everlasting
It is strong
It is pure
It is confident but humble
It doesn't worry about anything
It doesn't try too hard
It still remains through storms
Through tears
Through "pain"
Use your joy to give your pain purpose
The joy in you can find the good in your storms
In your pain
When you are able to find joy in pain,
It brings God glory
And that's the reason why He created you
So ultimately, the purpose of joy is to aid you in
Fulfilling your life's purpose
To bring Him glory...

Isaiah 51:11 Those who the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Me, my mom and my sis, expressing our "joy"

Regardless...

The other day,
I found myself trying so hard to prove to someone how much I care about them
Now, reflecting on the incident
Makes me feel so silly
Because I realize
That when someone takes the time to recognize and appreciate your character,
You NEVER will have to make even the slightest effort to prove anything about yourself to them

And then, an even more shocking realization hit me...
I was in the wrong for even trying to "prove" myself because that is a form of PRIDE

Once you know who you are in your GOD,
And you have showed people who you are and what you have to offer
If its not good enough for them,
If they can't accept it,
If they can't recognize it
Then...
Move on
And continue to love them
Regardless


SN: Just realized how much this post reminds me of my very first post "Convince". Guess you have to learn certain lessons a couple of times before they really sink in.

Arrival Point

GOD spoke to me this new year

And HE told me 

To stop searching for a “point of arrival” 

That I have already "arrived" 

Because I have made the choice to accept HIM 

To put HIM first

To make my home in HIS eternity

That I am already living out my blessings 

And all I have to do is continue to serve HIM

And walk in my season

That there will always be battles to get through at whatever point 
I am at in my life here on earth

To stop allowing battles and people to distract me from my main focus… HIM  

That HE will easily get me through each battle and each struggle with HIS grace   

Making it through a battle is beautiful but it is NOT a point of arrival 

Because there will always be more battles & struggles waiting for me 

My established relationship with HIM, 

My walk with HIM, 

HIS word hidden in my heart,

My obedience to HIM 

IS MY ARRIVAL

I no longer have to search for something I already have

If you also have already made the choice to make HIM your savior and you are searching and yearning for an "arrival point"; that is proof that you are clearly missing the point... STOP MISSING THE POINT AND LIVE

Clashing Feelings...

I feel relieved but still sad
I feel secure but still unwanted 

I feel like I can make it but still tired

I feel the blessing but also the curse

I feel my spirit man's strength but still my flesh's weakness

I feel the realness of my truth but still the shame of my facade 

It's not about what I feel

It's about what I focus on

And for each pair of my clashing feelings

As difficult as it may be

I choose to focus on the feeling
That directs me towards HIM

That directs me towards...

@ Miami Beach focusing on my joy :)

LIFE

LIFE is a battle

Not easily won

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit" says the Lord Almighty... Zechariah 4:6

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want... Galatians 5:16-17 

Delicate Flower

Like a delicate flower

Finds the strength

To spring back up slowly

After the rain beats it down,

I find the strength

To spring back up slowly

After my God 

Takes all the Weight

And all the burdens  

I've been carrying

Into HIS own hands

And just like the flower,

I am watered,

refreshed,

And all the more beautiful

At the end of the storm

I am a delicate, beautiful flower

with an indescribable strength

that comes from HIM

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore; most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me... II Corinthians 13:9