When was the last time you played?

When was the last time you played? When was the last time you were able to get away? Get away from your daily routine, responsibilities, work demands, house demands, and in turn, just play like a kid again? One of the privileges my husband and I have with living in the Orlando area is that Disney is 20 minutes from our house. Because of that, we try to always fit some time in our busy schedule to visit the place where "Dreams come true". This past weekend was one of those weekends. We stayed both Friday and Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hotel on Disney property and in turn, spent Saturday at the Magic Kingdom riding rides like Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, etc.. What a refreshing weekend it was. No computer, no alarm clock, no grading papers, no lesson plans to put together, and no doctoral classes to work on. Nothing. All we did was play.

I once heard a speaker state that the busier you are, the more play time you need. When was the last time you played? Are the responsibilities of life just wearing you down? Are you tired, worn out, burned out, etc? If so, play time is what you may need. Maybe your schedule or finances will not allow you to get away for the night. If so, why not take into consideration some of the ideas listed below:

* get out and have a picnic

* go to the park and swing on the swings like a kid again

* go down the slide at the park

* jump on your bed because you can

* have a pillow fight

* play hide-n-seek

* rent a canoe

* take a hike

* jump like a kid into a pool

* go on a bike ride

* go to a cafe and read a good book

* go to the beach

* fly a kite

* take a bubble bath

* go see a girl movie

* rent a girl movie

If the stresses of life are getting to you, set up some time to play. I promise, it will be well worth it!

What Are You Afraid Of?

What is the first fear that jumps into your mind? We all struggle with fears, some paralyzing, others mildly nagging. What about you? What is your greatest fear? Fear can motivate you to seek God's strength and power, or it can keep you from embracing new opportunities, including those that would help you fulfill His plan for your life."

You Are Not Alone

"I cross paths with women every day who have fears like these: heights, snakes, public speaking, cancer, terrorism, financial ruin, spiders, bridges, or dogs. Some have a fear of flying, falling, enclosed spaces, job loss, husband's death, being alone, fish, or chemical warfare. You may know someone who has a fear of abandonment, rejection, being attacked, failure, success, ridicule, or being found out that she's not smart. What about an extreme fear of dying, which causes you to avoid your annual checkup" (Brazelton, 29).

What are you afraid of? Like many women, I too have my fair share of fears. What I have come to realize is that many times, fears can keep you from fulfilling the plan that God has for your life. Let me explain. For the past 10 years I have had the opportunity to speak in a variety of venues. Each time I'm approached about speaking, believe it or not, I can't help but have this immediate fear creep up within me. Yes, the speaker who gets nervous! My first response is to say no. But as I think about and pray about the opportunity that the Lord has placed before me, I can't help but feel the Lord nudging me to accept the invitation. I have to admit, I'm nervous until the speaking engagement is over! But what's interesting to note is that while I'm speaking, I am in my element. My heart is filled with an unexplainable joy and while I'm speaking I can't help but think, gosh, this is what I was made for. I love nothing more than being able to share my heart with others and in turn, being able to encourage and inspire others to live the life that God has called them to live. What's even more amazing is that after each speaking engagement, my heart is overflowing with the encouragement I receive from the audience members.

Here's my point-I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has called me to be a speaker-to share His Word with others. When I'm asked to speak somewhere, I have to consistently remind myself that this is what God has called me to and in turn, I have to trust that He will give me the words to speak. I can't allow my fear to keep me from doing what it is that God has called me to do. If I do, I end up missing out on the wonderful blessings that the Lord wants to pour out upon me.

So, what are you afraid of? Where in your life are you allowing fear to take control? What would it look like if you allowed God to take that fear and use you in the mighty ways that He wants to use you?

Don't let fear win out. Give your fear over to God and watch what He will do. I promise, it will be well worth it!

Brazelton, Katie (2005). Praying for Purpose for Women. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan

Digging Deep

About a month ago, my pastor approached me wondering if I would be interested in leading the Sunday church service on July 8th while he and his family were out of town. After I said yes, I then began seeking God's guidance as to what I should speak about. He led me to the story of Joseph found in Genesis 37-50.

As I began digging deeper into the life of this amazing young man, God revealed some truths to me in regards to purpose and how He works out His plans for our lives. As you consider each point, see if you can relate to Joseph and what he encountered on his path to purpose.

1) Joseph was given a glimpse of what was to come in his life-he had a dream of greatness that he was not afraid to talk about. Has God given you a dream? Have you openly discussed your dream with a trusted friend? When you talk about your dreams, you not only embrace your dreams, but talking about them also brings ownership.

2) Joseph had dream killers within his life-namely, his brothers. Dream killers are those people who consistently question the dreams that you have and in turn, provide negative comments such as; it will never happen, how do you plan on making a living doing that, when will you grow-up, etc. Make sure to focus your efforts and time on those people who will build you up and encourage you as you seek to live out God's purpose in your life.

3) Life has its ups and downs. At the age of 17, Joseph had a vision of what was to come in his life, but then all of a sudden life took a drastic turn. Even in the midst of confusion, Joseph continued to keep his eyes focused on God and in turn, God allowed Joseph to prosper in everything he did. In life, it's not so much what you go through, but how you go through it.

4) When seeking out our purpose/dreams, we must always be willing to wait on God and his timetable. What we do while we wait may at times determine how long we wait.

5) In life, people will sometimes forget about us (just as the cupbearer forgot about Joseph), but you can rest assured that God will never forget you. God has a plan for your life and he has not forgotten the dream that he has placed within you. As Galatians 6:9 states, "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due time, we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Are you ready to embark on a life of purpose where God not only uses you in some amazing ways, but also grows you in ways you never imagined? If so, I encourage you to read through the story of Joseph and in turn, seek out God's guidance in living out your dreams!


ENVISION what you can become

CREATE the life you have always wanted

GROW into the person God has created you to be

The Joy of Living a Life of Purpose

This past week I received an email from one of my amazing clients who came to see me exactly a year ago for her 2-day Life Plan Facilitation. Every time I hear from her, I can't help but smile because she is living a life filled with purpose. She has allowed the Lord to guide her and in turn, he has used her in ways she couldn't even begin to imagine. Here's the latest email I received from her:

"My dearest Jen,
Today marks the 1 year anniversary of my completion of the Life Review process with you. It seems as if so much time has passed and I really feel I have grown and transformed so much. Here's a summary:

1) Physically: lost 66 pounds since baby was born
2) Mentally: have removed self-imposed barriers that limited my God-given potential
3) Heart: have identified what my passions are and have created my own projects to work in those areas. In fact, CREATED current position via a conversation with the hiring manager and we matched my passions with his business needs (this was a true God thing!)
4) Soul/Spirit: have grown much closer to God through daily Bible reading, claiming specific verses for my life, and regular conversations with God throughout the day

God was orchestrating so many things and I had faith that everything I was going through (including my job change in July of last year which was unpleasant for me, but was pivotal in my spiritual growth) was going to be worked out for good. In July of last year I took the "risky" faith step (see Daily Devotional below) of staying on in the new job I was offered, even though the job was not a good fit for my skills/passions/etc. I am so glad I did. God had me on a holding pattern because he wanted to prepare me to get involved in what I am working on right now at work. In fact, the products that I am looking after right now were launched in June 2006 (right when I got back to finish my Life Review) !!! Now, I am in charge of turning around those portfolios and re-defining the products!!! During that period of holding, God guided me to discover more of my strengths and passions. He led me to read books by John C. Maxwell and even attend a Leadership seminar he held in Palm Beach, so that I could develop my courage to speak to my then-future boss about my passions and request for a specific position within the company to deal with micro finance (a position that did not exist at the time). In short, during that "down" period, God was polishing me and preparing me. I continue to be polished and prepared on a daily basis, but I was aware at the time and now that this "down" time has been a crash course in humility, leadership, teamwork, and confidence-building. I was keenly aware at every step of the way that God was preparing me for a job, a big job (as I hinted in my Christmas letter). I did not know what that job would be or when, but I knew it was coming. Now, it has come.

From July 12-19 and August 10-17 I will be attending a seminar at a business school in Nicaragua, where I was faculty member many years ago, that focuses on Microfinance in Central America. Jen, you may recall that Microfinance is where I saw God leading me last year in my Life Review. I was expecting it to work out with another group within the organization that was already working in micro finance around the world, but God had other (and may I add better) plans that fit my gifts/skills/passions to a T. Our God is so good and kind to us, I cannot believe that today, on my one year anniversary of completing my Life Review (2 year anniversary of having started it), I can tell you that I am Living the Life I Was Meant To Live.

Jen, thanks again for letting yourself be used to help others with their Life Reviews.

May God continue to bless you,
Cristina-2-Day Life Plan Client"

As I read this email, I can't help but to allow my heart to be filled with joy. This to me, is what God has intended. He wants us to live lives where we use the gifts and talents that he has given us so that in turn, we can make a difference in this world. This is why I coach-Seeing other people living out their passions brings me such fulfillment that I honestly could not imagine not doing this.

Life Purpose Coaching for Teenagers

Ahhh, summer time! I must admit-I do enjoy my summers. While I love teaching and working with students, I also love having time to myself! Thus far this summer, I have had the opportunity to really think about teenagers and the many questions and concerns they have when it comes to their future.

This past school year I had the opportunity to sit and chat with one of my 11th grade students who had many questions about her future. She spent a few minutes with me discussing her confusion as to what college she should attend, what she should study in college, etc. She knew she had a heart for students, but she had no idea as to how to use that passion, that desire in the "real world". Like many students today, she was confused as to what direction she should go in along with confused as to who she really was.

This is not uncommon. This past school year I had the opportunity to teach and work with the 12th graders of the school. When I tried to discuss with them what their plans were for the future, many of them had no clue. When their names and information were listed on the school hallway (as the graduating class of 2007) for all to see, many of them had listed that they were undecided as to what they would study in college. Once again, this is common.

As a teacher and Life Purpose Coach, I feel that it is imperative that when students graduate high school, they have a pretty good understanding of not only what their passions, gifts, skills, and talents are, but also, who it is that God has uniquely created them to be. Thus, the reason for Life Purpose Coaching for Teenagers! Wouldn't it be nice to send your child off to college knowing that they know that the direction they have chosen to walk in is one that has been discovered through a process of truly identifying what their gifted at and what it is that they are truly passionate about. Wouldn't it be nice to send your child to college knowing that within the first year, they will not be changing their major about 10 times. This is what Life Purpose Coaching for Teenagers is all about.

Here are some of the topics that this process will include:

* Identification of talents

* Exploring of spiritual gifts

* Recognizing personality type

* Understanding values

* Discovering passions

* And anything else your teenager may have questions about (college, money, etc.)

If you have a teenager that you feel would benefit from Life Purpose Coaching, contact me today and I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have!

For More Information:
http://www.iamnext.com/academics/goals.html

NOTE: You can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the authors contact information below intact.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:
Total Life Counseling (407) 248-0030
http://www.totallifecounseling.com/

Finding your Purpose

"To find your purpose in life is the most amazing feeling and this is it."-Lisa Salem, Adoptive Parent

This past week I had the opportunity (and free time) to watch Dateline which showcased the story of an American Family that decided to adopt 6 Russian siblings who were in dire need of a home. As you read above, this mother knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had found her purpose; to adopt and care for 6 siblings who needed a home and family that would not only take care of them, but love them like they had never been loved before. And as she states, "Finding your purpose in life is the most amazing feeling" that one can experience.

I want to encourage you to read the story and then come back and take a look at my thoughts:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13546439/

Jen's Thoughts:

1. "They are two regular people in an average suburb in America". I love how this story begins. This sticks out to me so much because here you have "two regular people in an average suburb" doing an amazing thing. So often, this is how God works. So many times we tend to think that there is nothing special about us, that we are just regular people and in turn, question and wonder what God could possibly do with us. Here is a prime example of a regular couple doing an extraordinary thing! God can do the same with you!

2. "We decided that there were more children in the world than there were parents. And that we could do something." This sounds to me like these parents had a passion within them that was coming to the surface at just the right time. They saw a need and went after it. So many times, that's how God works within us. He shows us where there is a need and in turn, asks us to join Him in making a difference.

3. "You just go where you’re meant to be. We were supposed to be in Russia." When God calls you to something or somewhere, He will let you know beyond a shadow of a doubt and in turn, you end up just going because you know that is where you are meant to be. There's a peace that passes all understanding and because of that peace, you go knowing that you were called to go. There's no wondering, worrying, or questioning. You just know.

4. "We did have doctors, three in the United States, who told us not to adopt them. That they would have cerebral palsy. That they would have brain damage. That they would never be whole." If you are following after what it is that God calls you to, there will always be people within your life that you will tell you not to do it or not to go. They will try to discourage you from going after that Purpose that God has specifically called you to. But once again, when you know what you have specifically been called to, you will just go because you were meant to go and you will be who it is that God has called you to be. And in regards to the children having cerebral palsy, etc.-the kids are living normal healthy lives today!

5. "But the Salems refused to be discouraged and five months later, in Jan. 1999, video camera in hand, they arrived in Moscow, boarded a train and rode mile after mile before they could meet their babies." Do not be discouraged. If God has called you, He will provide for your every need. Just keep walking on that path that He has called you to walk and He will bless you beyond measure.

6. "There were months of constant feeding, sleepless nights tending to terribly weak, feverish babies." Following after what God has called you to will be work-hard work, but within that hard work, you will have a peace because once again, you will know what you are doing is what you have been called to do and created to do.

7. "And as they set off on their long journey, they were excited, but had fears, as well-fear about the future." When God calls you to something, you will most likely experience a variety of emotions, including fear. The reason being-when God calls you to something, most likely it's not something you can accomplish on your own-instead, it's going to require you to trust him fully so that in turn, He can get all of the glory.

8. "Hythem (the father) is an engineer, earning $64,000 a year. Lisa works part time at home. Supporting a family of four, is one thing, but traveling to Russia... and if the adoption went through, doubling the size of their family. Lisa: I don’t know how we’ll get through it. We seem to be living every day by the seat of our pants, but you can’t put a price on this." So many times we allow things like money and time to keep us from going after what we know God has called us to, when the reality is that if God has called you to something, He will provide for your every need. You may not see the whole picture right now, but He does and He will take care of you and your family. You just have to trust.

9. "Here’s what they were coming home to: A $55,000 addition to the home. Every penny, every hour of labor donated by a local developer. New bedrooms, a bathroom, furniture… all of it a gift, from people who wanted to help." This is exactly how God works. If He calls, He provides. He just wants you to trust Him with every fiber of your being and when you do, He will bless your socks off, more than you could have ever of imagined!

10. What's God calling you to? Are you ready to embark on an adventure of life that you never thought was possible? Be who God has created you to be. Do what He has called you to do. When you do, you'll be soon saying others, "To find your purpose in life is the most amazing feeling and this is it."

NOTE: You can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the authors contact information below intact.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:
Total Life Counseling (407) 248-0030
http://www.totallifecounseling.com/

Life Coaching or Life Purpose Coaching?

"Will Smith says that despite his huge successes, he still wakes up some mornings questioning his purpose in life. 'I just think that the gifts that God has given me and the attention that I have, I just don't feel like acting is the limit of it,' Will says. 'I just feel like there's so much more that I could do…'" (Oprah, 2007)

"Americans are growing increasingly unhappy with their jobs. The decline in job satisfaction has occurred over a period of two decades, with little to suggest a significant reversal in attitudes anytime soon. Today, less than half of all Americans say they are satisfied with their jobs, down from 61 percent twenty years

ago" (The Conference Board, 2007).

Does any of this surprise you? Will Smith, an extremely famous and wealthy actor states that even though he is very successful, he still wakes up questioning his purpose in life. Here's a man that can have and does have anything and everything his heart desires, but yet, he still wakes up wondering if there is more to life.

Then we read that less than half of all Americans are satisfied with their jobs. What this tells me is that more and more people dread Monday mornings and in turn, are living lives that have no passion, fulfillment, nor purpose.

I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Lord never intended for us to live lives that have no purpose and the He never meant for us to wake up dreading the day before us. If He never meant this, then why do we feel this way?

The answer is this-we have failed to truly recognize how the Lord has created us and in turn, we have failed to spend time seeking out what our gifts, talents, skills, and passions are. In our fast paced world today, most of us are lucky to find 5-minutes of quietness within our day, let alone finding time to focus on how we have been created. If we want to live lives filled with passion and fulfillment, we must be willing to take the time to not only realize how the Lord has created us but to also spend time in growing and knowing him more intimately. Life Purpose Coaching can and will assist you in these two areas.

Why should someone seek out Life Purpose Coaching before Life Coaching? The answer is simple-in order to live a life of balance, it's vital to first know who you have been created to be, what your gifts, talents, and skills are, and in turn, realize what it is that you are passionate about so that you can live out that purpose that the Lord has specifically created you for. Once you realize your purpose, it is then that a Life Coach can assist you in living a balanced life and in turn, assist you in those other areas that you feel you may need encouragement and guidance.

Believe it or not, many people hire Life Purpose Coaches and Life Coaches to assist them in living the life they were created to live. Oprah Winfrey has a life coach that assists her in various aspects of her life. Here's a woman who once again, has it all by the world's standards, but yet, she seeks out the guidance and assistance of a life coach.

Look at it this way-many people hire coaches to help them in the following ways:
* Sports
* Dancing
* Speaking
* Voice
* Acting
* Music

While hiring someone to help you improve in these areas is important, isn't living a life of purpose as important, if not more? Let me encourage you to think about who you believe the Lord has created you to be and in turn, to truly ask yourself if you are living out the purpose that He has created you for. My hope and prayer is that you would live out your life being all that the Lord has created you to be and that in turn, when Monday comes along, you wake up ready to face the day!

Links for more information:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/classified/jobs/orl-coach2507apr25,0,7518336.story

http://www.see-purpose.com/

NOTE: You can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the authors contact information below intact.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:
Total Life Counseling (407) 248-0030
http://www.totallifecounseling.com/

Life Purpose Coaching

It's quite often that I get asked, "What is a Life Purpose Coach?" Let me begin by sharing a story with you. A few months ago, I was contacted by a woman who was wanting to go through a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitation. For quite some time she felt as though she was not living the life that she wanted, nor did she feel as though she was using her talents, skills, and gifts in the best possible way. She felt as though her life lacked passion and fulfillment. This young woman had everything going for her-great job, great family and friends, but yet she still felt as though something was missing. She wanted to do something with her life where she felt as though she was making a difference and that her gifts, talents, and skills were being used in the best possible way.

After meeting with her a few times over the phone and through email, she decided to make the drive to come see me in Orlando for a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitation. During our time together, we covered a variety of topics including:

* Assessment of key areas

* 10 defining moments

* Poignant themes

* Positive & Negative Critics

* Character Issues (values, spiritual gifts, qualities, driving forces, achievements, addictions, motives, etc.)

* What is God telling you?

* Top three wishes

* 2-year plan for key life areas

After spending two days with this extremely gifted and talented woman, she walked away knowing what direction she wanted and needed to walk in in order to live the life that she not only wanted, but more importantly, the life that the Lord wanted her to live.

Today, she is in her dream career position and on top of that, she is using her gifts to reach out to other women who are just confused by life. She has begun a ministry within her hometown that seeks to reach women and assist them in realizing their God-given talents, gifts, and abilities.

Going through a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitation allowed her to realize where she needed to make changes and it also ignited her spirit to go live the life that she felt she was called to live.

So, back the main question-what is a life purpose coach? A Life Purpose Coach is someone who has been trained by Dr. Katie Brazelton, founder of Pathway to Purpose Ministry and Life Purpose Coaching Centers, International. Using the books written by her and our own unique experience, we help you to discover, know, and fulfill your God-Given Life Purpose.

As a Life Purpose Coach, I am someone who is dedicated to meeting with you on a weekly basis or one-on-one for two days, to help you realize your God given potential. I am someone who will listen, give spiritual advice when needed, and will pray for you diligently. I am someone who will help you realize how your past and present circumstances are helping you become the person you were created to be.

So, here's my question to you-Are you ready to start living the life you were created to live? If so, contact me today. You'll be happy that you did!

Links for more information:

www.totallifecounseling.com/jen.htm

www.pathwaytopurposeministry.com

www.lifepurposecoachingcenters.com

www.purposedrivenlife.com

NOTE: You can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the authors contact information below intact.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:

Total Life Counseling (407) 248-0030

www.totallifecounseling.com

To Whom Has God Called You?

First and foremost, God has called you to Himself-to get to know Him, love Him, glorify Him. But He has also called you (asked you to follow Him and obey Him in a specific way) to minister to a particular group or certain age range of people. For whom does your heart break? Whose cries echo in your ears? Few thrills compare to the discovery of your life’s calling, including specifics about who, what, where, or how you are to humbly serve. If you have already heard the details about to whom you are called, jot that down today in thanksgiving. If not, ask the Lord to reveal to you ministry opportunities to the general population, as you prayerfully surrender to His will and await further instructions from Him.

Have you heard the call?

Do you gravitate toward church pastors who are computer illiterate, anxious to teach them how to prepare a PowerPoint presentation? Has God specifically urged you to pray for the lepers in Calcutta, India, or support the orphans in Tijuana, Mexico? Do you feel compelled to visit those in jail? Do you ache for children who have special needs, for your churches youth ministry, for those adults with no church family, or for visiting missionaries? Are you a friend to unwed mothers, the homeless, elderly, oppressed, fatherless, or widows? Are you drawn to those who are indigent, fire victims, orphans, hearing impaired, house-bound, or war veterans? Do you feel led to work with a parachurch organization to reach the unsaved around the world?

To whom has God called you?

[God said,] “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

How does this verse speak to you?

From "Praying for Purpose" by Dr. Katie Brazelton - pg. 223-225