YHWH's Artist

          From Fall 2014 to Spring 2016, I spent 14 out of the 22 months doing some sort of mission's work outside of Louisiana. About 12 and half of the months were spent in Oklahoma City teaching character education in public schools. The other month and half I spent traveling around the world on other mission's trips. During those those crazy 22 months I was constantly moving.

          When I came home this past July, I didn't have any plans. I didn't know if God was going to ask me to go somewhere else or to stay home. Once I realized He was asking me to stay home, I then thought "Okay, but do what?" He led me to enroll in a local college to start furthering my education, and to start working at a women's clothing store. To be blunt, both of these roles were very normal. After doing so many things, always being stretched to go somewhere new, meet new people and share the Gospel constantly, I realized a normal life is hard. It's difficult to share the gospel with your fellow classmates. It's straining to build habits that exist outside of work or school. It's discouraging to try and make a normal life revolve around Christ, when the epitome of a normal life is everything but Christ centered. It's hard. 

          When my earthly role changed from missionary teacher to normal college student, my spiritual occupation did not change. If I am a sale's associate, or a teacher, or a student, those are all earthly occupations to describe me. But rather, if my spiritual occupation is to help make my surroundings reflect beauty and what is good, then it doesn't matter what my earthly occupation is, as long as I am fulfilling my spiritual job. 

          After these six months of living what I call a more normal life, I've realized that no matter where I am, what my role is, or who i'm with, God is enough. Wherever I am at, there are going to be challenges, breakdowns, heartache, and failures, but also I can choose to find victory, hope, love, and peace mingled in with the hurt. Earth is my home right now, and while I long for Heaven I know that fulfilling my spiritual job on earth matters. I am YAHWEH's artist, and fulfilling that role is my purpose to living. What's your purpose for being alive?