Know Your Purpose - updated

God deals with me through analogies. This was actually one of them when I was either thinking about my purpose.

So what is my purpose? The obvious one was to be a good mother to my son. The other part of my purpose was to live a life pleasing to God.  Okay, I got those 2 down, but there has to be more.  

As I was pondering on this question, I was led to pickup a spool of thread that had a needle attached to it. As I looked at the needle, I begin to think about the purpose of the needle and the thread.

When the manufacturer created the needle, he or she knew that the sole purpose of the needle was to allow the thread to go through it's eye in order to sow something together. The needle can’t function without the thread and the thread can barely function without the needle.

There are times when the needle and thread can’t do it's job properly. For example when either the eye of the needle is too small or the thread splits while trying to put it through the eye of the needle.  So what do you do when this happens?  Sometimes the solution could be as simple as cutting the end of the thread so that it won’t split.  Another solution could be to get a bigger needle, because the eye is just too small for the thread. And then the one trying to put the thread through the needle may need glasses. Just saying.

There have been times, in the midst of our frustration, that we discarded or threw the needle away thinking that something was wrong with it.  When, in actuality, there was nothing at all wrong with the needle, from a manufacturing standpoint. The error was with the user (User Error).

When God created you, He didn’t make a mistake. He knew, before you were formed in your mother’s womb, what your purpose would be.  Along the way, things got distorted because of various hindrances or obstacles in your way. Some of the obstacles can be pin pointed right back to “User Error”.

Stop allowing the devil to use you, since he didn't create you.  Although the devil may know a little more about you, then you do of yourself, he doesn't know your true purpose. Especially if you are a child of God. Don’t let situations, doubt, fear of the unknown or even the opinions of others keep you from being who God has created and pre-ordained for you to be.  You are not a mistake. You were created in the image of God. Switch ownership. Allow God to use you so that your purpose, in Him, can be revealed.

Respect Yourself

My opinion are from years/decades of observation in general.

I know I'm a mother of a "boy" child and slightly old fashion BUT BUT BUT....I still can't wrap my mind around the way our young and older ladies are dressing. Nothing is left for the imagination because everything is hanging out or exposed.

It's amazing how certain things, actions and speech (language) were once viewed or considered as distasteful, inappropriate and even disrespectful are now acceptable and part of the norm.

I guess this is the new "sexy" look. The more you expose the sexier you are. Really?
Another saying 4 some guys is that "They are trying to hard". Either way it spells trouble.

Some outfits are literally 1 pull, squat, bend or stretch of the arm away from everything just popping out. You don't have to expose your body to point of it being X rated to look sexy or attractive.

You may look at me and say of course you would say that, look at you, you are just a plain Jane. That's not true. I'm all woman. I know how to look sexy and attractive but not desperate for attention or arrogant. It's all about me or everybody, look at me.

I know who I am. I have always viewed my body as the temple that it is. If I don't respect myself,  no one else will. Besides I'm not trying to display the wrong message or attract the wrong people. I can't allow what I say be one thing, as a Christian, and my action and/or appearance be another.

All I'm trying to say is that we have to be good examples for others. Folks are watching us whether we see them or not. But most of all God sees us. He also knows what's in our heart and what makes us do what we do even if we don't know it.

HOLINESS (Book Appendix Excerpt)

1 Peter 1:14-16

 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

“Be ye holy” This is not a suggestion but a statement or a command.  There is nothing outrageous, difficult or unattainable about living a holy life unto God.  We make it so hard because we want to be not only in the world but also of the world, and still be able to reap the benefits of God. 

That’s why you have so many Christian men and women living together before marriage, (shaking up).  More babies are born out of wedlock then ever before, because no one wants to talk about fornication or how to say no until you say “I do” as husband and wife.  You have men liking men and women liking women right here within the body of Christ, because no one wants to talk about homosexuality until it hits home.  Men and women are getting married to the wrong person because they did everything they wanted to do outside the Will of God and now they want their mess to be blessed by saying it is better to marry than to burn.  God is not only a holy God, but he is a God of order. 

In today’s society, you have men gripping about women being too holy and vice versa.  Is there such a thing as being too holy?  Are we basing our definition on holiness according to the world’s standards, which includes our fleshly desires or according to the Word of God.

Holiness is defined as a state or character of being Holy.  Holy is defined as set apart to the service of deity.  Deity is God or somebody or something that is treated like a god.  Basically, holiness is the state, character, disposition, nature or make-up of being set apart to the service of God. 

Vs 15 of our text –the Amplified Version states,”But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. 

Holy implies sacredness, being consecrated to God or being worthy of God.  You must be free from impurity.  There can be no hint of moral pollution or spiritual defilement.  To be holy is to be free from anything that would offend a perfect God.  Those things we use to do when we were in the world, we can’t do any more.

To live a holy life is a choice.  It is not something that you can put on or take off whenever it is convenient.  It is a lifestyle or way of life.  As we yield ourselves to God, and as we soberly, seriously and vigilantly resist  the devil and all his temptations, we will find that God is able to “perfect, establish, strengthen and settle” us.  As a living witness, it is not easy, but it is worth it. 

We have to get out of our comfort zones.  If you are going to live holy, then stop making excuses and just live holy.  We must stand up for what is morally and spiritually right at any cost even if we have to stand-alone.  We must proclaim the Gospel not only with our mouths but also by example. 

Concluding with 1 Peter 2:11-12

(New Living Translation)

Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls. Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world.[^]

Will you live holy?