A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Friday,
May
28,
2021
(Click on photo to enlarge)
"The
Blessing Of A Repurposed Life"
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"Saul
was still breathing out murderous threats against the
Lord’s disciples" (Acts 9:1). "This man is my chosen
instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and
their kings and to the people of Israel" (Acts 9:15).
"You, however, know all about my purpose" (2 Timothy
3:10). "When David had served God's purpose in his own
generation" (Acts 12:36).
Yesterday
we were on the back roads of Lancaster County and passed
the repurposed outhouse seen in our lead photo. It's not
uncommon around here to see outhouses used in a similar
way. About 20 years ago our community celebrated its
150th anniversary and a part of the "festivities" was an
"outhouse tour". We went on it and it was very
interesting!
The one
that stood out in our memory was a two-seater. Brooksyne
opened the door and what appeared to be a woman was
sitting on one of the seats. Of course, she immediately
shut the door out of embarrassment only to realize that
the owner of this particular outhouse had dressed up a
dummy to make it look more realistic and to pull a prank
on those who looked on. We were not the only ones who
quickly shut the door and walked away with a flushed
cheeks.
I read a story about someone who
had torn down an old three-seater outhouse and laid the
pieces on the ground for disposal. A neighbor came by
and, looking at the pile of boards, asked if she could
have "the board with the three holes", not knowing how
that board had been used. She was told, "Well I suppose,
if you want it go ahead and take it" having no idea what
in the world she would do with the outhouse seat.
Sometime later she was visiting the neighbor and she
proudly showed her how she had "repurposed" the board as
a picture frame with photos of her three grandchildren
in the holes! You probably never thought of that one,
huh!We enjoy
the challenge and sometimes savings of repurposing, that
is, finding a purpose for an item different than its
original intent. The dictionary defines repurpose as
"adapt for use in a different purpose". I have often
used scrap material for projects around our home.
Today let
us consider a much greater type of repurposing,
repurposed lives, how in redemption God has miraculously
repurposed our lives adapting us for a different
purpose.
Prior to
his conversion on the Damascus road Saul had a purpose
described in Acts 9:1, "Saul was still breathing out
murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples."
He was a great persecutor. I suppose his mission
statement would simply read "persecutor of Christians."
But his life was transformed and repurposed. At his conversion his new purpose was made known, "This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel" (Acts 9:15). You might say at conversion Saul's life was repurposed.
Paul, as he came to be known, is often considered the greatest missionary of all time and faithfully fulfilled that purpose. Toward the end of his life in his final letter he wrote in confidence to Timothy, "You, however, know all about my purpose" (2 Timothy 3:10).
A vital question we should ask is, "What is my purpose?" God created each one of us with purpose. One of the greatest innate needs common to all people is a purpose for our existence. Many aimlessly drift throughout their lives with little sense of direction or purpose. As a young Christian I learned to share my faith using a booklet called "The Four Spiritual Laws" which begins with the phrase, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life". Of course the noun "plan" can be equally understood as "purpose" and truly God has a purpose for each one of us.
But his life was transformed and repurposed. At his conversion his new purpose was made known, "This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel" (Acts 9:15). You might say at conversion Saul's life was repurposed.
Paul, as he came to be known, is often considered the greatest missionary of all time and faithfully fulfilled that purpose. Toward the end of his life in his final letter he wrote in confidence to Timothy, "You, however, know all about my purpose" (2 Timothy 3:10).
A vital question we should ask is, "What is my purpose?" God created each one of us with purpose. One of the greatest innate needs common to all people is a purpose for our existence. Many aimlessly drift throughout their lives with little sense of direction or purpose. As a young Christian I learned to share my faith using a booklet called "The Four Spiritual Laws" which begins with the phrase, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life". Of course the noun "plan" can be equally understood as "purpose" and truly God has a purpose for each one of us.
There are
aspects of this purpose common to all who follow Christ.
Although we may not choose to word it the same way, it
would be very similar to my "personal mission statement"
that I wrote many years ago. This, of course, could also
be called my "personal purpose statement." I
purposefully place it in the footers of each daily
encouragement message. It reads,
"I am
created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son
Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my
life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is
to honor God through my faith and obedience and to
prepare myself and all whom I may influence for
eternity."
But we believe God has also specifically equipped each of us for the unique purpose He has for our life. This purpose varies depending on the gifts, challenges, and callings God has granted us. In Acts 12:36 we read, "When David had served God's purpose in his own generation". My goal is to serve God's purpose for my life in my generation. What about you?
Here are three questions to consider today as you live a repurposed life:
• Do I
know my main purpose in life, both general and
specific?
• Do the people who know me clearly observe me living according to my purpose?
• Do my priorities in life reflect this purpose?
• Do the people who know me clearly observe me living according to my purpose?
• Do my priorities in life reflect this purpose?
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, Your purpose in my life is
seen in a multitude of ways; whether it is in my
vocational training; in the way I raise my
children; in the relationships I engender or in
the way I use my gifts to touch other lives. But
Your purpose in my life is especially visible to
others in my response to heartache, betrayal,
disappointment, suffering, and loss. Your
purpose can be seen when I choose not to repay
evil for evil, but rather good for evil. Lord,
as I keep Your purpose for my life always before
me I will remember that much good spiritual
fruit can be developed in me in the ups and
downs I encounter daily. May I be faithful in
making choices today that reflect Your purpose
in my life. Amen.
Outhouse memories: Brooksyne and I both have childhood memories that we suppose are getting rarer and rarer, especially here in the USA. We both had grandparents that had and used an outhouse! In fact Brooksyne used an outhouse during her childhood in Tulsa.
By the time I (Stephen) was a child my MaMa and PaPa, who lived in tiny Harwood Missouri, had indoor plumbing. It had been installed by my dad some ten years earlier when my grandparents were in their sixties. Prior to that they used the two-seater outhouse which was still standing at the side of the house and functioned. When there was a lot of family gathered it was convenient to have a second (and even third) bathroom. Few people are picky about the facilities when nature calls!
Brooksyne's grandparents lived in the Arkansas mountains and did not have indoor plumbing till she was a teenager. She writes,
Daily
prayer: Father, Your purpose in my life is
seen in a multitude of ways; whether it is in my
vocational training; in the way I raise my
children; in the relationships I engender or in
the way I use my gifts to touch other lives. But
Your purpose in my life is especially visible to
others in my response to heartache, betrayal,
disappointment, suffering, and loss. Your
purpose can be seen when I choose not to repay
evil for evil, but rather good for evil. Lord,
as I keep Your purpose for my life always before
me I will remember that much good spiritual
fruit can be developed in me in the ups and
downs I encounter daily. May I be faithful in
making choices today that reflect Your purpose
in my life. Amen.Outhouse memories: Brooksyne and I both have childhood memories that we suppose are getting rarer and rarer, especially here in the USA. We both had grandparents that had and used an outhouse! In fact Brooksyne used an outhouse during her childhood in Tulsa.
By the time I (Stephen) was a child my MaMa and PaPa, who lived in tiny Harwood Missouri, had indoor plumbing. It had been installed by my dad some ten years earlier when my grandparents were in their sixties. Prior to that they used the two-seater outhouse which was still standing at the side of the house and functioned. When there was a lot of family gathered it was convenient to have a second (and even third) bathroom. Few people are picky about the facilities when nature calls!
Brooksyne's grandparents lived in the Arkansas mountains and did not have indoor plumbing till she was a teenager. She writes,
"Grandma
and Grandpa had a two-seater, two seats for
humans and for anything else that decided to
inhabit the rickety outhouse such as yellow
jackets, wasps, mud daubers, and the likes.
One thing's for sure, you didn't have long
to wait to use their outhouse since we got
in and out of there as quick as we could
before being stung during the very hot and
humid summer months. We also didn't piddle
around in the freezing winter months when we
dreaded going out in the cold. Nighttime was
the worst time since my grandparents lived
in the thick woods, known for bears, coyotes
& wolves, even bobcats. Finally, my
parents were able to pool their money with
other relatives to install indoor plumbing
so we could have running water which
included not only a flushable toilet but
also a bathtub and running water in the
kitchen. It was very rusty water with a
sulfur taste but at least it was indoor
plumbing at last."
This "repurposed" garage near
Martindale, PA is now used to display flowers.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
What a colorful backyard! Notice the
fire truck play set.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
The
homegrown produce stands are opening up and
yesterday we stopped at this one near Ephrata,
PA
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
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Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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