Unpausing Purpose

I didn't believe going in that seminary would so radically affect my sense of purpose.   I don't want seminary to be a four-year holding pattern where purpose gets paused.  My wife was gracious to offer me a day's retreat where I could dialogue with the Lord and take some time to re-evaluate and re-ignite some purpose to what we're doing here and why. 

My purpose as a child of God is to respond to You in love, obedience, gratitude and holiness.

      Set apart each of my days with time devoted to our relationship.
      Set apart each of my days to declare Your love and faithfulness

      Set apart each of my days to confess my disobedience and falling short

      Set apart each of my days to give thanks for the good and perfect gifts You give

      Set apart each of my days to fight the good fight, battling temptation in the Name of Jesus

      Set apart each of my days to worship You reasserting Your incomparable worth

My purpose as a husband and spiritual leader of our household is to love as You loved the Church.

      To exhibit Christ’s love to my wife in pursuing her daily with words, touch and affirmation

      To exhibit Christ’s love to my wife in speaking honestly and tenderly to her

      To exhibit Christ’s love to my wife in being quick to listen and slow to speak

      To exhibit Christ’s love to my wife in extending grace quickly and keeping no record

      To exhibit Christ’s love to my wife in serving her without being asked

      To exhibit Christ’s love to my wife in praying for her needs daily

My purpose as a father to my children is to have compassion on my children.

      As You have loved me Father, to always remember my children as a treasure and a gift

      As You have loved me Father, to listen to what their little hearts are trying to say

      As You have loved me Father, to see discipline as for their good not for my reputation

      As You have loved me Father, to speak life-giving words to them as seeds for You to water

      As You have loved me Father, to model humility seeking forgiveness when I wrong them

      As You have loved me Father, to love them without condition and apart from works

My purpose as a minister of the Gospel is to shine the light of Christ to a darkened world.

      So I love, walking securely in your grace and filled with Your all-sufficient love

      So I love, remembering I am the chief of sinners yet still perfectly and fully loved in Christ

      So I love, extending grace to those desperate for it as well as to those unaware they need it

      So I love, praying for humility in seeing others needs as more important than my own

      So I  love, preaching the Gospel of grace in every circumstance whether spoken or unspoken

      So I love, promoting the cause of Christ as one in which I owe my life