What Exactly Is Our Purpose In Life?

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Ah, the Great Commission. I haven’t written lately because I’ve been waiting on God to reveal what it is I need to say. You see, I want this blog to be about Jesus, and not about me. Well, He has brought me to this command in scripture 2 days in a row from 2 different sources. The first was yesterday in church hearing about discipleship. Today while seeking God on what to write about, He led me to an article on the internet about submitting to God’s authority over our lives and seeking His purposes in our lives. This scripture was used as reference. While I realize these are popular verses, it caught my attention. And as I’ve said before, my writings are as much for me as for anyone else out there.

This command sums up the questions I have for you from the thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head for a few days. Did you accept Jesus to receive your “get out of jail free card”? Check that off the list. Whew, now that I’ve gotten that whole I’m going to heaven thing out of the way I can get back to MY life. Or are you truly seeking Him as Lord of your life? What evidence do we have that Jesus is making a difference in our lives? Every Christian must dedicate themselves to serving Jesus Christ. We must submit to His purposes in our lives.

Before I go any further, let me make it perfectly clear. The acts of service we perform do NOT get us into heaven. That would make it about us. The only way to God and an eternity with Him in heaven is through Jesus and the blood He shed for us. It is all about Jesus. Always has been, always will be. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2: 8-9. The acts of service we perform are from the fruits we bear through the Holy Spirit that comes upon us once we’ve allowed Jesus into our lives.

Ok, now back to the Great Commission. This is the single most important command Jesus gives to us. Tell people the good news about Him.  We have the most important news in our hearts.  How can we not want to share that with others?  Doesn't everyone deserve to hear about Jesus?  Think about it, did WE deserve to be told about the life giving power of Jesus?  What makes us any different than anyone else?  There should be an urgency about us to share Jesus with the lost.  Are we so caught up in our own little worlds that we don't think about eternity?  Do all the activities, careers, chores, etc. really matter in the end?  No way! 

So, what exactly is our purpose in life? It’s to grow the Kingdom of God. It is to share the truth of Jesus with everyone we meet. Scary, huh? My heart beats faster just thinking about that. Everyone is different, but these are a few things I’ve been doing to bring myself closer to the command before me.

1. Prayer. Lots of prayer. One of my prayers is that my love for Jesus will be greater than my fear of what others think. Another is asking God for His courage.
2. Being in the Word. I don’t have a particular scripture here to share, although there are many goods one. Just spend time with God by reading His Word.
3. As I’ve mentioned in this blog, love, love, love. I ask Jesus daily to show me how to have His love for others. When we love someone, we want what’s best for them. Even when they’re strangers.

I’ll leave you with this for now. Hopefully this was just enough to get us all thinking and wanting to seek a closer relationship with Jesus and to obey His greatest command for us.

Blessings, Karen

Has It Really Been a Year?

Wow! It has been a year since returning from Kenya. It seems like just yesterday since we returned to “normal” life. Can one really return to “normal” after a trip like ours? I don't see how and I thank God that I can't even imagine it. He has been so faithful to keep the Rendelle People in my heart. Kargi, Kenya will forever be a part of me. He's even gone so far as to increase that love by placing the whole Horn of Africa on my heart. I have the sweet burden for people in places I've never been before. I weep for the lost, the poor, and the hopeless and I consider it a privilege. I know this is hard for some of you to understand, because you've not experienced what I have. I know, because I too didn't understand before going. If you are feeling the tug from God to go, wherever “go” may be, please open your heart to that pull. Allow God to work in you so He can work through you.  I personally am waiting to see where God takes me next.  I trust that He will send me where He wants me to go and will provide and protect.  

I'm going to share some pictures from our trip last year. They are very dear to me, so I hope you'll enjoy them and allow God to speak to you through them.

Anna adopted me (custom in Kargi) and named 

me Cararba, which means meeting place.

Part of our WASH team out telling the women of Kargi about 

washing hands and boiling their water before drinking.

Mama Sarah got this basket the women use to be in the picture. 

The children love having their pictures taken.

2 brides and Marco. The red and white beads are what show they 

are married. It's the equivalent of our wedding bands.

Isn't she adorable! This is my favorite picture.

One of our interpreters, Galribo, with his wife, daughter 

and son.  I consider Galribo a friend.

With some of the Christian teenagers that live in town. Sugai (Su-Gay-i) 

is to my immediate left. She is a very sweet girl that took to me.

Rendelle women and children learning to use the tippy taps to 

wash their hands.

I could show even more pictures, but I won't do to that to you. Instead, I'll leave you with some scripture that I used to prepare myself for this trip:

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness, “ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

Blessings! Karen