Why to Have Hope!
There are times in our lives that we face things that seem overwhelming and too difficult for us to handle. We face trying times where we feel like we are trapped between a rock and a hard place with no way out. There are circumstances in our lives where we just want to throw up our hands and give up! It is during these times that we begin losing hope. We believe there is nothing that can be done to help us during these devastating times. But the truth is, Read More…
3 Powerful Word!
Words are powerful. More powerful than most people like to admit. Scripture teaches that the tongue has the power to bring life or death. (Proverbs 18:21) That one verse is ever true in my own life. Our words have the power to either build someone up or tear them down. Read More…
Ignite Your Influence!
“Everyone is a leader because everyone influences someone.” John C. Maxwell.
This is one of my favorite all time quotes due to the truth that is behind it. Several years back I was in a Bible study and the topic of influence came up and I quoted Maxwell’s statement about how everyone influences someone. However, I added to what he said. I said, “Everyone influences someone and you either influence them for the good or for the bad. There is someone watching you weather you realize it or not.” Now, I don’t remember if I had read that somewhere or if I heard someone else say that, but it doesn’t really matter. The truth is, what I said was true. I have people who are watching me, even when don’t know they are watching me. The way I live my life influences Read More…
No Fear?
The Lie
Back in the early to mid-90’s there was a clothing brand that came out that seemed to take the world by storm for a little while. The clothing brand was called No Fear (logo pictured above). The No Fear brand was related to extreme sports and the idea that those who wore the logo had “No Fear”. Everyone was wearing their shirts with these two words were printed on each shirt. The answer is yes, Read More…
My Daughter has a Dream Too!
Ever since my children were born, my prayer for them has been that the Lord would use them in a mighty and powerful way. I hope that most parents have a dream that children grow up and will make a difference in this world. I know I do and today I started to see this happening. This morning my wife, Holly, sent me a picture of something my 6-year-old daughter, Caitlyn, wrote for school. She had to write about her dreams for the world based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Read More…
The Voice: It isn’t Just a Reality Show
I like watching reality TV shows that are based on competitions. I must confess, that I have never watched the music reality show “The Voice.” The closest that I have come to watching it has been the few videos on Facebook. During the first episode of the show, the judge’s backs are to the contestant so that the only thing they can judge is the contestant’s voices. As the contestants sing, they try to win over one of the judges with their voices so that they will be chosen to be mentored. This is nothing new as it is with most of the reality TV shows today; they all have the same basic concepts. Contestants are trying to be heard or seen by using their “voices” i.e. their words, actions or talents. However, long before “The Voice” aired, actually even before television, Read More…
Are You Picky?
I have a confession to make… growing up I was picky! Yes, I was picky when it came to the food on my plate at dinner time. I wouldn’t eat it if I didn’t like the way it looked. Yes, I was picky! My mom would say, “Jacob, stop being so picky, you’re missing out on some good foods!” However, I wouldn’t listen. Remember, I was picky. However, now that I am an adult; I learned to not being as picky about my food. I do try new things and my mom would be proud of me and of course, mom was right; I missed out on a lot of good foods.
However, I’m still picky and I bet you are too! Read More…
Finding “Rare” Coin!
As a kid I remember sitting in class at Amboy Elementary waiting for my prize for selling candy or some other contest at school. The teacher called my name and I got up and walked towards her with anticipation. With great excitement I reached out and received my prize. I looked down and I saw something that was round and silver with a lady on the front of it. I knew it was some kind of coin, but this coin was unlike the quarters, dimes, nickels or even the silver half-dollars that I had seen before. I later found out that it was a Susan B. Anthony dollar. As a young boy I thought I had something very rare, and I started looking for other types of coins. I found more Susan B’s, which wasn’t as valuable as I thought, along with some silver dollars and a couple of half-dollars with Kennedy on the front of them. However, I did come across another “rare” coin Read More…
The Examined Life
Robert Fulghum wrote in his book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten: “The examined life is no picnic…”
Oh how true are these words! I don’t like looking at my life and seeing all of the junk that is there. How about you? You would probably answer that with a big NO WAY! The important question is, why not? Because if we do and we are really honest, then we will have to admit to ourselves Read More…
The Best Question to Ask…
Asking the Right Questions to the Right Person will always get you the right answers!
If you and I were created for something more, it sure would be nice to know what that something is, right? Right!
So, how do you know what you have been created for? Good question, no actually great question! It is a question that needs to be asked! Better yet, it is a question that needs to be answered! I am so glad you asked!
Just like any good teacher, the best answer seems to always be a question! Haha… Don’t you just hate when someone answers your question with a question? I do… but sometimes it is necessary.
So my question for you is: Do you KNOW the One who created you for a purpose? That’s right, do you KNOW Him?
A couple of years ago I read a passage of Scripture that spoke volumes to me on knowing God. King David was drawing near to the end of his life and is about to turn over his kingdom to his son, Solomon. David gives some of the best advice that a father could give his son. He says to his son: “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately.” 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NLT)
There are a couple of words that stand out in this verse: know and intimately. The word know in the Hebrew is Yada, which means to know by experience. There are all kinds of ways that we can know someone by experience. When we come into contact with people, we have an experience with them. So how are you to experience God? David answers that question. We are to experience Him intimately! Intimate means a close, deep relationship; it is a closeness that is intertwined with understanding, confidence, and total acceptance. To Know God is to have an intimate experiential knowledge of Him!
There are a lot of people who know about God or may know God as an acquaintance but do not know Him in a personal and intimate way. However, there is a major difference between an acquaintance of God and intimately knowing God. Think about it in the terms of a marriage or dating relationship. How close would you be to your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend if you only talked to them once a month or even once a week? Do you really think you would know them very well? Probably not. The reason why you married your spouse or are dating someone is because you developed a deep and personal relationship with them. This relationship did not happen overnight and it didn’t happen by causally meeting them every once in a while. It took time to learn about them, right? Right! The same is true with God. We must spend time with our Heavenly Father and get to know Him intimately!
So how does knowing God intimately relate to the purpose in which we were created for? Well, if you don’t know the Creator of our purpose very well, then we will never know exactly what He created us for in any area of our life! The only way to find out your purpose in this life is to get to know God by experiencing Him through a close, deep and yes intimate relationship. As you grow closer to Father, as you keep seeking Him and asking Him your purpose in this life, I promise He will show you what purpose He created you for! So see, it is about asking the questions to the right person!
So have you asked the Right questions to the Right Person? Let me know what you think! Or if you would like for me to be praying for you in finding your purpose I would love to, just let me know!
Finding Your Purpose!
Jacob has a passion to help people come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and help find the purpose that God created them for then live out that purpose. His mission in life can be summed up by three things: Loving God, Loving People, and Serving Both!
You will find all kinds of resources that will help you grow in your relationship with Christ.
"I hope that this blog will help you find your purpose in life as you grow closer to Jesus Christ!" - Jacob
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