I’ve been working my way through The Purpose Driven Life with my friends Sarah and Theresa (by the way, I would link you to their blogs but you and I both know that I’m too lazy to do that on a Sunday afternoon). I started the book sort of skeptical, thinking I wouldn’t get a lot out of it because, well, I know my purpose. It’s to know God and to share God with others.

Boy was my skepticism out of line! Leave it to me though, right?

I guess that’s how the Lord works sometimes. “You don’t think you’re going to learn anything, Mrs. Holy? Ha! I’ll show you!!” says God (ha ha, although I highly doubt it sounds that way coming from Him). I’ve truly enjoyed my journey through the book, and have refreshed my memory on so many basic fundamentals that are easy to lose sight of.

Yes, my ultimate purpose in life is to have a relationship with God and tell others about it, but there are so many details that make up that general statement. My whole life I’ve heard, “Everything happens for a reason,” but it’s so easy to forget the strength and peace from that statement. Everything really does happen for a reason. It is all apart of the Plan God has created for my life, and it is all ultimately for His glory. I’m placed where I am this very second by only His intervention, and everything I do affects my ministry and “Kingdom Work” for the Lord.

So many people ask Will and I what the heck we’re doing here. What’s the reason, the purpose? We get it so much that sometimes, quite honestly, it’s frustrating.

Okay, I’m lying. Frustrating is one of those words you use when you’re trying to be polite.

It’s freaking annoying.

There. I said it.

Will and I came here for our own reasons. We had many deep hurts from the church Will served at before (who would have thought working for a church would cause more pain than a regular secular company!? Sadly, that’s the case a lot of times) and decided we had to get out of that situation. We had to get away and do something else and really see if God had called us to full-time ministry. Ha ha, I don’t think we realized that “getting away” would entail moving across the globe, and not only that, but to a Muslim country. Those were our reasons. Even though we had our own genius ideas for coming over, we always had a peace from God. We knew that he wanted us here for a reason.

I’ve learned God’s reasons for us being here are far different from ours (thank goodness!!). His purpose is far bigger than “getting away,” or taking a break. There are no breaks in serving God. I might have though so, since Will wasn’t getting paid to be a youth minister anymore, but serving God is a 24-7 operation- whether we were getting paid to do it or not! I’ve known that the whole time we’ve been here, but reading this book has continued to magnify it.

So, I’m here, in this miserably hot country. Living my life as light for His Purpose, even when it seems fuzzy sometimes. Reading this book has been a blessing, especially doing it with friends. I encourage you guys to do the same.

Hope you had a good weekend. To the girls I love that are mothers now- HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Your babies are blessed to have you as their mommies.

Stay tuned, embarrassing moment story to come this week (what a shock).
<3