What We’re Here For

Please start by watching this video:  “What We’re Here For” by The Afters

Is God speaking to you right now?

It will take you less than 10 minutes to read this page.

In that time you will hear from God.

God has a plan to use you right where you are.

Don’t let the devil tell you otherwise.  That’s a lie.

God will provide you with everything you need to accomplish His Plan.

Pray about how you can serve God by serving others.

God will show you the way.

God’s Plan for Your Life

Keep reading to discover your role in God’s Plan.

The Word of God

I’ve studied the Bible from cover-to-cover several times and every time I gain an enormous amount of new wisdom from God.  What I’ve learned is the amount of wisdom He has to share with us is infinite.  We can never stop learning from the Bible. It’s also important to understand that the instruction is tailored-made for the reader.  We can each learn completely different lessons reading the exact same passage.  There’s no question the Bible speaks to individuals.  The Bible is the Word of God and it meets you wherever you are in your life (Hebrews 4:12).  While there is extraordinary complexity in the pages of the Bible, and while there is an astonishing ability for the Bible to make a unique spiritual connection with each reader, the core teaching is profoundly simple – Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).

Moving Closer to God

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”  James 4:8 (NASB)

If you’re like me, you want to move closer to God every single day.  If you’re like me, you are also distracted by this world.  We have to find our way, build our future, support our family and friends, pay our bills, and navigate often turbulent waters.  If you’re like me, you probably need a helping hand now and then.  From my perspective, we all need a helping hand now and then.  In fact, I believe God’s purpose for us is to be that helping hand.  I’m here for you.  You’re here for me.  That’s God’s plan.

Stir up and Encourage One Another

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”  Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

If we join hands and work together in our effort to serve God, a great deal can be accomplished.  I am deeply grateful for all those who have spent time reading this blog.  The mission here is focused on serving God and for us to help each other do so better and more completely each day.  Each time you visit this blog is an opportunity to pray that each post brings glory to God and in some way encourages others to move closer to Him. That’s what this blog is all about; working together to serve God by serving others.  The more people we have who commit to this goal, the greater chance we will have to make a significant difference.  Your participation can have an enormous impact.

Your Mission for God

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)

Somehow you found your way to this blog, and to this post, and to this paragraph, and to these words. I don’t know if that’s part of God’s plan, but you do.  There is every possibility that God has brought you here for a reason.  You may have been placed right here at this moment in time to fulfill a mission for God.  I’m praying right now that you have been sent by God and that you will reach out and help me and that I will somehow be able to help you.

Take a moment and consider your own walk with God.  Do you feel God’s love in your life?  Do you want to feel God’s love more in your life?  Do you feel God’s power in your life?  Do you want to feel God’s power more in your life?  Have you noticed God nudging you in a certain direction?  Do you wish you had a clearer understanding of God’s purpose for your life?  Are you sharing God’s love with others?  Would you like to have more opportunity to share God’s love with others?  Have you dedicated your life to God?  Would you like to help those who don’t know God find Him and experience Him the way that you do?  I want you to consider a path going forward that will help us all grow in our relationship with God.

Serving God by Serving Others

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”  1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

Here’s what I’m asking you to do:  I want you to focus your life on serving God by serving others and encouraging others around you to do the same.  The fact that you’ve read this far in this post suggests to me you’re already doing this in some capacity.  What we both need to do is figure out a way to multiply our efforts.  I can do more with your help.  You can do more with my help.  Here on this blog I’ve compiled some resources and suggestions that will help you plan your walk with God going forward.

Tools to Help You Serve God

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

The post titled, How to Serve God Today, is a long brainstorming list of possible ways to serve God by serving others.  This is a list of sometimes broad categories that are intended to spark more specific ideas in your head that are tailored made for you and your personal talents and resources.  The Stories category is a collection of real life examples of what other Christians have done around the country to serve God by serving others.  The Volunteer category includes several organizations that are dedicated to helping others, which you can take part in or support monetarily.  The Path to Discipleship series is a step-by-step process designed to help you move closer to God and energize your connection to the power of the Holy Spirit.  Finally, the rest of this blog is dedicated to a study of the Bible and lessons learned there, that are meant to inspire you and help you keep the Word of God on the top of your mind and first in your heart.

Using these tools to expand what you’re already doing in your spiritual life, will without question, increase the impact of your efforts.  Many of these tools are designed to be employed in groups that will once again be a benefit multiplier.  The more people we involve in our efforts to serve God by serving others, the more we will see the ordinary explode into the extraordinary.  We’ve all seen the Internet’s ability to take seemingly mundane events and turn them into viral movements that captivate the nation and sometimes the world.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the next viral campaign to take over was centered on serving God by serving others?  If enough believers are focused on this effort, it’s only a matter of time before a spark sets off such a fire.

Lead the Way

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”  Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)

I don’t consider myself to be much of a leader.  I’m more of an organizer than a leader.  I’d like to think of my efforts with this blog as a storage closet for tools that can be used by leaders, like you.  You may be thinking, “I’m not much of a leader either.”  The truth is however, we are all leaders in some capacity.  Indeed, I’m leading the effort to compile the material on this blog and right now I’m attempting to lead you into making good use of what’s available.  Even if you have not been a leader of a group of any size, you are the leader of your own life.  You do make your own decisions.  When you take the tools I have compiled for you on this blog and put them to use with your own resources, I can assure you positive things will begin to happen.  When people around you see what your efforts are accomplishing – they will follow your lead.  You will have become a leader.

Redouble Your Efforts

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”  James 4:14 (NASB)

Time is ticking away.  Every moment that goes by is gone forever.  Everyone who could have benefited from our efforts yesterday is still waiting for us to take action today.  Read through the resources on this blog and come up with your personal plan to serve God by serving others.  If you’re already doing just that, consider the possibilities presented in this blog as tools to help you expand your efforts.  In all cases, document your success and share it with others so that your victory can be duplicated elsewhere.

May you be richly blessed in your efforts!

Sincerely in Christ,

Mike

START HERE to take a closer look at what’s available on this blog.

All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context.  Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations.  In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon.  Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.