Spark2Flame

I don’t know about you (I have a pretty good idea), but there are certain things in life that are exhilarating and other things that I do because I have to do them. It’s so strange being the only person on earth who’s like that. It must be similar to how Michael Jackson feels.

Jokes aside, I find myself extremely thankful today for purpose and knowing, at least in part, what that purpose is. God is so gracious to infuse our DNA with a specific purpose and then show up to reveal what that is. I’m talking about what really makes you tick, brings you some sort of fulfillment, and causes great joy when you engage in it.

Now, before you get all spiritual on me and say, “The only place I look for fulfillment is my relationship with Jesus.” If that were true, every spare moment would be filled with maintaining, building, and strengthening that relationship instead of all the other junk we fill our lives with. It is in relationship that we find out what purpose is all about, but there is so much more.

Adam and Eve were created for relationship, it’s true, but then God gave them a task of keeping the Garden of Eden, naming the animals, etc. When sin entered the world, everything got completely screwed up and our purpose was frustrated. It’s sort of like a mirror that shattered, but still in one piece. You can see a reflection, but it’s not genuine or representative of the truth. It’s marred and disfigured.

That’s why we can find joy and fulfillment in some things for a while, but apart from God, those feelings are fleeting. We are inexplicably drawn to some things over other things, and people that have never known God can still find what they were made to do. The only problem is that we were created for purpose and relationship. Without the relationship, we can get everything out of balance and the fulfillment turns to ambition, apathy, imprisonment (maybe spiritual, hopefully not physical), or any number of things.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “…we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Another translation says we are “predestined for good works.” There are things we get the privilege of doing by His grace, and that is exciting!

I don’t have to walk around like a zombie wondering what to do next (and certainly not feasting on human flesh). God put good desires within me and I can follow these things as I grow in relationship with Him. That doesn’t mean that everyone will recognize it instantly or encourage me all the time to embrace my dreams. A lot of times, it seems like the opposite and some of those zombies don’t like it when someone breaks free.

• Sure, lots of people tell me now how my music or worship leading affects them, but there were years when the only one encouraging me was God. I had to trust Him and grow in the gifting He had given me even though I didn’t think I could do it.


• It’s the same with preaching: when I get into a sermon and feel that flow, it’s an amazing rush! I’m not going to lie, it’s like a drug, whether it’s in worship or preaching. Finding that flow is so cool!

I’ve decided right here and now, I’m not going to apologize for feeling alive when I’m doing what God made me to do. Some people fear strong emotions in any form, but as Yoda let us know, “fear is the path to the dark side.” And that diminutive green puppet has a point.

Plenty of people get seduced by these intense feelings, believe their own hype, and then succumb to the pride that eats them up—but relationship with God and accountability with other believers are safeguards for us.

I don’t want to never feel alive because I’m afraid of where it might lead. What kind of life is that?

The Church has done a fairly bad job of this as we can often make people feel bad for pursuing their dreams and finding their purpose (all the while throwing those same words and concepts at them). Isn’t Jesus enough for you? Why would you need to find fulfillment anywhere else? Because He made me for both! If we followed that logic, we would never get married, go to church, have kids, or do anything else. It would be a sad little cubicle of an existence, and I dare say, we would not be able to know God to the fullest extent.

Why? Because I hear God speak as I grow in love and relationship with my wife, kids, and church. The same is true as I expereience my destiny. He reveals Himself everywhere I look and those other things are not superfluous, they are created by Him and meant to be enjoyed!

So if you feel alive in business, go for it. If you feel the flow in helping orphans, go for it. If you find fulfillment in writing a blog, go for it. You may be excited by what has been defined as ministry in the past—like worship leading, preaching, kids church, youth, etc.—or you may find purpose in something else entirely. News Flash: that's not the only definition of ministry.

Explore what God has put inside you and walk with Him to see that purpose fulfilled.