Living

Living - Telling Your Story
Living -- what could you say about it? It is said that everyone has a book in them; after all, everyone has a story. So at this point, you may be closely looking at your own life. How was your life story determined?

What common thread do I share with all of humankind? What has been the most driving force in life? Where do I begin in sharing my story?

Whatever path in life you have taken, you have walked a journey of ups and downs like all of us. Some ups are higher and some downs are lower than others, but they’ve served a purpose of making you who you are today. That is your story.

You may consider starting with:

• an outline of an event or early memory
• a little family history
• a wonderful achievement you have mastered
• a decision that changed your life

Living - Are you a Survivor? What is your Purpose?
The most basic principle in life is survival. How have you survived and gotten to where you are in life? What has driven you to survive? Another principle of life is the need to feel worthy, loved and to have relationships with others. Those things are part of every human’s natural make-up. So have you had an exceptional relationship you want to credit?

The most vital need for worth, love, and relationship is based our spiritual plane. It was created in the deepest, innermost part of our being -- our soul. Out of our soul comes the emotions which were created to experience joy, sadness, happiness, love, and so on. It is our emotions that drive us to ask “What is my purpose in life?” You might want to examine the question of “Where does that purpose come from?”

Living - Are you a Survivor? What is your Purpose?
As you ponder your story, you might recall a time when you asked “What is my purpose? Why did God create me?” God tells us in the Bible that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) and “I [God] knew you before I formed you in your mothers’ womb” (Jeremiah 1:5). He had a plan for your life and a purpose for you to fulfill from the beginning. Your story includes times when you followed God’s personal plan for you and times when you did not.

When you think back, can you think of times God helped you survive? Have there been times that you knew He loved you when you thought no one else did? Perhaps you can tell of a time when all the right doors opened for you with no logical explanation or answered a prayer of desperation. The Bible (His Story) says that God has put into our hearts for the purpose of His will or plan (Revelation 17:17). Share your story of what His will has been for your life.