John had been in recovery from alcoholism for over a year. At an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, he put his head in his hands. He said, "I don't know how to live. I don't have a purpose for my life." There are people who feel that they have no purpose for their lives. They have few ambitions and few dreams. They drift through life feeling unfulfilled. Throughout their lives, they might say, "I wish that I could have done more with my life." Some do not pursue their dreams because of different reasons in their lives. Some have many commitments, and others don't try because they believe that they will fail. For some of these people, there's an uncertainty about life.

A motivational speaker once said that the richest place on earth is the cemetery. It is full of unfulfilled dreams and goals. Is there a purpose to our lives? How do we find it? Some people might sabotage their own plans and dreams. A person might become involved with crime. Some people sabotage their hopes and dreams by getting involved with drugs or alchol. Some people just lose all confidence in themselves when they are hit with setbacks and failures.

Life has it's share of setbacks and disappointments. This should never stop a person from having hopes and dreams. Everyone one has a purpose in life. Everyone has potential. Each person should have a goal to strive for in life. God blesses each and everyone of us. He gives life both purpose and meaning.

THE ONE WHO HAS A PURPOSE FOR US

In the book of Jeremiah, God spoke words of hope and comfort to the people of Israel. Even though they had sinned against Him, God still loved them. He said, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope."(Jer. 29:11) God speaks these same words to us. He knows what His plans are for us. He intends to give our lives both meaning and purpose.

If you're searching for a purpose for your life, know that God has something in store for you. He knows His thoughts towards you. His thoughts are for your benefit, and to give you blessings in your life. God will give you direction and guidance as you seek out His will for your life. God knows what His plans for you are. In His own time, He will reveal them to you.

HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU HOPE

Hope is something that everyone seeks. Some aren't sure where to find hope, or in what to place it in. Some build their hopes on material possessions or in their jobs. They might built their hopes upon the words and actions of others. These kinds of hope are not built upon a firm foundation. They are built upon sinking sand. The world does not, nor cannot offer a true and lasting hope. Such hopes can be easily be shattered.

While it is good to have hope, we ought to be careful where we place our hope. If we put our complete hope in the promises of the world, then we will be disappointed. Such hopes could fall through.

Christians, like everyone else, have hopes and dreams. Yet, Christians know not to place complete hope in the world. Christians know the source of true and lasting hope. This hope is found in Christ. The psalmist wrote, "But now, Lord, what should I look for? My hope is in You."(Psalm 39:7) Where else can we look for hope? Who else can give us a purpose for life? God wants to give us lasting hope. He wants to give to us a purpose for life. Such a hope and purpose will not fade away, even through the storms of life.

As we look at hope, we learn that Jesus is the foundation of hope. because He gave of Himself for our sins, our hope and our faith is in Him. But of this hope and faith, we do not need to on the false promises of the world. We only need to depend on the promises of Christ. We do not need to depend on those things, such as drugs or alcohol. These only shatter hopes and dreams. Christian hope is strengthened through the Word and by the Holy Spirit. He always points us back to Christ, who is the source of our hope, and purpose in life. The Holy Spirit blesses us with His gifts, that we can use to serve God, and others. This gives purpose and meaning to life.

HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE

God not only wants to give you hope, He wants to give you a future. None of us knows what the future holds. But God does. The Christian believes that through faith, that the future is held in God's hands.

Believers know that at the end of the Christian journey, there will be a glorious future of eternal life with Christ. This is the goal of the journey. Christ has made this goal possible through His death and resurrection. He makes this goal attainable
through faith in Him. We are truly blessed in this journey. We a unshakeable hope now, and a life of purpose. Through faith, we will have a glorious future in heaven with Christ.

WALK THROUGH LIFE WITH A PURPOSE

Life has it's ups and downs. But through it all, there is still hope. Life can still be full and meaningful. Our lives do have purpose and meaning. We can use our God-given gifts in whatever our callings might be. With such a hope, we can take the difficult times, and shine through them.

Praise be to the God who holds our lives in His hands. May He continue to strengthen us by His Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit's guidance, may we use our potential, and live with purpose and meaning. May we look with anticipation to when we will spend our eternal future with Christ in heaven.

Great message schmikey \o/