I read the above on a Mikey's Funnies daily email that I receive. I had a chuckle because that's what we should be doing; living our happily ever after now! We, as Christians, know that we have a heavenly happily ever after to live, but what are we waiting for while we're here on earth? Retirement, a better standard of living, to not have the daily grind? What exactly? If we spend our lives waiting for something better then we will soon find that our life on earth is over!
God wants to use us right here and right now for His glory, so that we can get more of His children to go to heaven and live their own happily ever after there with Him. I am so very thankful for the life that I have lived. Yes, there have been tough times, and times that I would much rather forget, but THANK YOU Lord for sticking by me and getting me to where I am today.
Rick Warren has it exactly right in his book, Purpose Driven Life, which helps us examine and determine exactly why we are here. God has a purpose for all of us, but we must forget self and learn what He wants us to do. He wants us to be happy NOW, He wants us to enjoy life NOW, He wants us to serve our purpose for Him NOW! Not in the "happily ever after" time that fairy tales tell us will happen when we meet 'Mister Right', or get that pay rise, or buy that brand spanking new house. It's NOW!
Rick Warren writes that "One of the wisest men in history, King Solomon, who ruled the nation of Israel after his father, David, was confused about his purpose in life. He once wrote, “I, the Teacher, was king of Israel and I lived in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done in the world. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. Everything under the sun is meaningless, like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:12-15 NLT)." We must not be confused, we must not waste time chasing the wind and we must not think that something or someone will get us to 'happily ever after'. Only God can do that. Jesus is our Prince Charming and God is our King. We must never forget that and focus on something or someone else.
God has plans for us; His eternal plan (Ephesians 1:3-14). We must seek God out through His word and pray and meditate on it so that our purpose - how we can live 'happily ever after' - can be acted out now. If you haven't already read Rick Warren's book, I suggest that you do. I have and plan to make it a yearly read. All it takes is 40 days. Until then I plan to run through the End of Chapter Questions and Answers periodically to make sure that I am living my happily ever after correctly for God.
Paul speaks of the depth of God's love for us in Romans 8:31-39. How could He not love us when He sent His only son to die for us?
"31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Are you living your 'happily ever after' now for God, or are you living it for something or someone else? Do you know what your purpose is...for God? Ask Him to show you. Ask for His guidance so you can be all that God planned for you to be...for Him.
Dear Lord, thank you that you love us enough to send your only Son to die for our sins. I pray that I will seek out your purpose for me every day and in every single thing that I do. Thank you for showing me that a fairy tale mentality will not get me the true happiness that only you can provide. In Your Heavenly Name, Amen.
Paula! I am SO thankful to have heard from you about the book from Koorong online. I was actually getting on the 'puter now to ask you how and where you got yours!!! So, thank you! You've been a great help... Last week, I commented on Lelia's blog that I would be participating in the study, but that I would be doing it quietly, as I didn't feel I could 'commit'... Now, after I have slapped myself on the wrist and had a good talk to ME, I will be participating, and so, have been feebly searching for the book the past few days... with no success... WORD told me it would take 6 to 8 weeks to get here!!!... I'll get onto it right now - thanks, again... Hope you're enjoying the holidays with your little girl... Naomi
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment...I was just rattling on and on, thank you for taking the time to read it. It seems as though everyone is looking for that "purpose" right now, and you seem to have a good grasp on it. Keep on keeping on and we will all know our purpose if we follow the spirit.
ReplyDeleteTess
Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog! I am enjoying yours as well. You have quite a gift for writing. It seems that I have a lot more to "say" than I do to "write!"
ReplyDeleteI look forward to doing bible study with you, and to stopping in at your blog again!
Darlene