1

Last Few weeks What are you thankful for? What has made your life rich/ interesting? What has made you strong? Coming to grips with a call. Last week: Are you living by design or default? Today: Designing your life’s mission 2

Staying the Course James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. NIV 3

Staying the course Retirement Purposeful? Drifting? Clarifying a call Does NOT have to be to Full Time Ministry How you want to be remembered “God, assuming the life you give me will go on for some time, the difference I would like to make is ____________________. List a few of the reasons you have a passion It won’t let you sleep at night Read Rube’s memorial 4

Romans 15:15 “ … I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” NIV Puppy commercials Abused and neglected Only 48 cents a day Give enough to salvve our conscience Don’t invest our life into something that matters Before Christmas I was with my wife visiting a craft fair. ( NOT alone) Broke away and noticed the work of one man; “retired” He created Metal art with tasteful Christian themes. He wants to use his skill, talent, and time to communicate the gospel. Not in a church, but in a secular craft fair. Not pushy; just creating and talking 5

Staying the course It is hard to stay focused The temptation to quit is strong Read Rube’s memorial 6

Gal 1:13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie .21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me.

Staying the course It is hard to stay focused The temptation to quit is strong The passion for your task doesn’t go away! We often ask for Strength Wisdom We seek counsel (we are really seeking someone to tell us it is ok to quit) What does it mean to be “double minded?” Are you “stable” or “unstable?” James 1 Read Rube’s memorial 8

Jesus stayed the course Went to the cross Withstood grueling pain and torture Had a goal in mind The Salvation of all 9

What is your task? Goal? Call? Design or default Default is bobbing around in the ocean Default is being driven to and fro Default is doubt Without a “call” it is easy to quit Something keeps driving me/ us Missionaries went Missionaries kept going They had the end in mind 10

Designing the rest of your life! What are you passionate about? What are you good at? What feeds your soul? How are you gifted? Ask God for a few words that summarize you! It should be inclusive of what you do transferable. Try it out! 1 month 6 months Dropped off at movies as a middle school kid Made friends with the person in line in front of me Asked if I could sit with them Said goodbye and never spoke again 11

My Personal Mission Statement Look Listen Lead Love Learn Laugh Live (really live) I am always looking for a spiritual conversation I love to find it among the common people Milton drives a Morgan. His wife was dying. Sent him used books on Morgans. She died. He started a spiritual conversation. Explained this look and listen 12

So What? Design or default A personal mission statement doesn’t define you, it: Summarizes you Keeps you on track Keeps you focused Adds purpose in un-purposeful moments stays with you wherever you go. There is a permanence to what you are about. 13