What's My Purpose Here on Earth?

There must be some meaning to humanity's mixture of awesome abilities and awful atrocities. What is the ultimate purpose and meaning of your life?

What would you ask the Supreme Being if you could get a direct and immediate answer? A poll in USA Today reports that the No. 1 question people would like to ask God is "What's my purpose here?"

With all our technology and sophistication we still haven't answered the fundamental question of what is the purpose and value of human life. It seems Henry David Thoreau's observation that most people live lives of "quiet desperation" is all too true.

 MAKE IT GOD WAY
Where would you even start to discover the purpose for your life? Can you find it in psychological tests or philosophy? Aptitude tests might help you pinpoint your abilities. Personality evaluations could conceivably help you focus on aspects of who you are. But the social sciences can't explain why you live.

The place to begin

The complexity and interdependency of nature around us, the miracle of life itself, reveal a Life Giver, a Creator. Would it make sense that a brilliant Life Giver would create intelligent beings without purpose? "What's my purpose here?" can ultimately be answered only by the Creator of life.
Western society claims to have its roots in Christianity, yet the last place many people search to find purpose in life is the Bible. The Bible reveals a special creation with a special purpose. The first book of the Bible is Genesis, which simply means "beginning." Here is the Bible's first sentence: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
God then created a unique biological being called man. Genesis 2:7 states, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."
Does this mean that man is just another animal, different in form but essentially the same as a chimpanzee or other mammal?

The theory of evolution would lead us to that conclusion, but evolution doesn't explain the obvious differences between humanity and animals. How do we explain the human ability to create music and art, discover and use geometry, develop architecture or invent complex forms of communication?

Instinct and intellect

A slug or a spider is driven entirely by instinctive behavior. The more complex the life-form, the more it can learn. Yet the behaviors of even the supposedly highest forms of animals are primarily instinctive. This isn't true of humanity.
Mortimer J. Adler, in his book Ten Philosophical Mistakes, makes the point that if we compare animals with man "a radical difference appears. In the strict sense of the term instinct, the human species has no instincts—no innate, performed patterns of behavior. We have a small number of innate reflexes, only some of which are congenital. We also have what might be called instinctual drives or impulses. But in carrying these impulses out, members of the human species behave in a wide variety of ways. They do not all manifest a single pattern of behavior, such as we find in all members of a particular species of bee, ant or termite" (1985, p. 31).
This ability to reason and make complex decisions and choose courses of action makes humans infinitely different from any animal. The differences between the quality or quantity of the human brain and the brains of other mammals aren't sufficient to explain the vast differences in function. When it comes to size, some mammals have larger brains than humans' while others have a higher brain-to-body ratio than that of humans.
The difference between other mammals and human beings—the ability to reason, create, communicate emotions, experience love and empathy—are all aspects of what we call the mind.
Adler concludes: "The relation of the sensory powers to the brain and nervous system is such that the degree to which an animal species possesses these powers depends on the size and complexity of its brain and nervous system. This is not the case in regard to the intellectual powers. That the human mind has such powers does not depend upon the size or complexity of the human brain. The action of the brain is only a necessary, but not the sufficient, condition for the functioning of the human mind and for the operations of conceptual thought. We do not think with our brains, even though we cannot think without them" (pp. 52-53).

What is the human mind?

Brain size and biology can't explain humanity's uniqueness. So what creates the differences?
Once again we turn to the Bible. In the creation account we see that God created each animal "according to its kind," but human beings are in the "image" and "likeness" of God (Genesis 1:24-28).
Creativity, positive emotions, logic, love, abstract thought, communication skills—these are aspects of the mind of the Creator. These are ways in which He has created us in His likeness.
Notice what the Bible says in Job 32:8: "But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding." One of the biblical prophets, Zechariah, declares that God "forms the spirit of man within him" (Zechariah 12:1).
Mankind and animals are both living "souls," or beings. Both are subject to death, the cessation of life. The difference is that man possesses a nonphysical component called a spirit that imparts individuality, intellect, creativity and personality.
The Bible reveals the mystery science can't solve. We are physical, chemical beings with a nonbiological component—a spirit—a mind that is in a limited way like the mind of the Creator. But, if human beings are like God in so many astonishing ways, why can't we solve our own problems?

An incomplete creation

Why are human beings capable of writing inspiring music and also able to commit terrible crimes against each other? We research into the intricate human body and create medicines that heal, yet we produce nerve gas that kills. We send a rocket to explore outer space but send a missile hundreds or thousands of miles to destroy a city.
If mankind is made in the image of God—who reveals Himself as loving, kind and merciful—why are we so filled with hatred, violence and selfishness? The answers lie in understanding that we are an incomplete creation.
Genesis reveals the root cause of humanity's evil. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were given freedom to choose between their Creator's instruction about life and a way simply called the "knowledge of good and evil." They chose the latter, the knowledge of good and evil.
God told Adam and Eve that once they started on the course of self-determination they would embark on a path that would ultimately lead to death. Evil—what the Bible calls sin—brings about death. History is a story of good and bad, of incredible potential and incredible failure. It is also a story of death. It seems that humanity's destiny is to struggle, suffer and eventually die.
Central to the Christian religion is the belief that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God who took humanity's death penalty upon Himself. Jesus also came to supply the missing ingredient to make eternal life possible. On the night before His crucifixion Jesus told His disciples He would send them another "Helper" (John 14:15-18).
The apostle Paul wrote to Christians in Corinth about the missing ingredient that keeps humanity from solving its problems: "... We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
"But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:7-11).
Here Paul writes that mankind knows the things of mankind-reason, creativity, mathematics—because of the "spirit of man." This spirit is what makes us have similarities to God and gives us the ability to have a relationship with Him. Paul shows that to really understand the spiritual nature of God we must also receive the Spirit of God.
The Spirit of God is the missing ingredient in humanity. Without it human beings become both good and evil, lacking the wisdom to always see and choose the good. Death is the natural result. The death process must be reversed and a new nature developed in us. Peter puts it succinctly when he writes that we must become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4).

God's purpose for you

Humanity's problems—from agriculture to economics to education to government to family relationships to individual emotional health—are ultimately spiritual in nature. Real solutions require not just a change in environment but a change in people.
Our first parents chose to participate in both good and evil. Not just Adam and Eve, but every human being who has ever lived—except Jesus Christ—has made the same choice. The result is that every human suffers and dies. Jesus came to pay the death penalty for evil. He also came to make available to people the Spirit of God, the healing, missing ingredient that will change corrupt human nature into divine nature.
What is your ultimate destiny? What awaits those who are willing to be changed by God's Spirit from corrupted human nature to become partakers of the divine?
Paul explains in Romans 8:14-17: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by [which] we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit [itself] bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
The purpose of humanity is to become the spiritual children of God! The purpose for your life is more than making money, gaining social status and wearing the right clothes. The coupling of the human spirit with the Spirit of God makes possible the development of a new nature and eventually a resurrection to a new life as immortal children of God, joint heirs with Jesus of all things.

This is the ultimate potential of every human being.

But this isn't just a nebulous promise of something in the far-off future. The Creator says you can enjoy a Father—child relationship with Him now. There are real solutions to your problems. There is hope for those willing to discover their true purpose. The first step on that road of discovery is to turn to the Creator and His instruction book.

culled from thisistheday.org

by Gary Petty

25 Debt Reduction Tips For Your Immediate Action Plan

In the modern era where credit cards are so convenient, loans are so common and debt is socially acceptable, it’s extremely easy to get into debt. I still have vivid memories of the two people that sold me on my college credit card. It has the school logo on there and best of all, it helps the school every time I use it. How cool is that?



Get Out of Debt Now with These Tips


Avoiding debt is an advice that most don’t appreciate enough until we are swamped with bills and obligations. For years, many of us just pay the minimum payment on our credit cards and we think our house is an ATM machine.


Now that our economy is deteriorating and people are worried about their jobs, we are finally thinking about the debt that we carry. If you are concerned about all the loans that you need to pay off, use the time you are worrying and spend some time implementing the following 25 tips to reduce your debt instead!


Focus on the Prize - Motivation is key to debt repayment success. Get a Post-It, write down your total debt and tape it on your computer monitor. Seeing the number go down is a huge motivator. Some people like to instead motivate themselves by looking at the reward (perhaps a picture of your happy family to remind you how relaxing being debt free can be). That works just as well.


Debt Snowball - Some like to pay the highest interest rate first and others like to pay the smallest loans first. Whichever method it is, debt snowball works because you are concentrating on one loan and the psychological benefit of paying them off helps tremendously.


Get a Side Job - You are afraid of your job but how many of you are actually trying to get another job in this economy? Whether it’s starting some form of passive income or getting a part time job, side hustling is still the quickest way to make more money.


Freeze Your Credit Cards - I personally think credit cards are great because of rewards but it’s clearly not for everyone. If you have a hard time keeping yourself from splurging, just freeze them!


Constant Reminder - Reducing debt is a long journey that takes discipline. Whether it’s setting reminders on your calendar or setting an alarm on your phone to alert you to pay bills, anything you can do to trigger your mind about your path to financial freedom is encouraged (and sometimes necessary).


Have a Regular Meeting About Debt - Schedule a monthly meeting with your family and figure out how to save more money and pay off your debt quicker. In the meeting, talk about your progress, dream up ideas and make some point form actions for the next 30 days.


Take Ownership - The most important step in becoming debt free is taking responsibility. The credit card companies may not have encouraged you through the years to limit your spending but it’s ultimately you who racked up those charges. Stop complaining and start doing something about it.




Understand that this is a Problem - No company is ever going to keep lending you money forever and ever. Stop wishing that the problem just will go away by itself and start dealing with it. Debt is a problem. Start reducing it immediately and stop thinking that you should drag it out infinitely.




Learn the Power of Compounding Interest - I imagine that people who are in debt don’t really understand the essence of compound interest. Remember all those charts that show how interests compound when you invest? When you are in debt, this is just in reverse!


Read the Fine Print - The majority of us don’t really pay attention to the fine print when we take a loan or apply for a credit card because those details are confusing and boring to read.



Considering how much the detail can affect us (for examples, just look at all those people with rate adjustable mortgage rates), it might even make sense in some cases to hire someone to read and explain it to you. Take some time to understand those documents and save yourself from a possible disaster.


Mind the Small Fees - There’s no question that small fees add up. Couple bucks here, several meals there and you are looking at thousands and thousands of dollars each year. Every penny counts! Save them up and use it to repay your loans.


Paying Minimum Payment Sucks - Everyone just paying the minimum payment would be a dream come true for credit card companies. Do you really want them to make money on your dime?


Don’t Always Upgrade Your Lifestyle with Income Increases - It’s so easy to instantly upgrade your lifestyle whenever your income increases. Getting a raise or promotion is such a happy event so even though celebrating is good and well deserved, imagine what you can do to your debt repayment schedule if you put those extra dollars at work!


Start a Budget - People don’t budget because it’s boring but it absolutely works. Knowing where your money is going is the first step to figuring out how to save more money. More money saved, more money to repay loans.


Don’t Keep Up with the Jones - When all your neighbors and friends are buying new car and going out to fancy restaurants, it’s hard to just say no. However, which would you choose? A miserable retirement or a comfortable one?


Fancy Doesn’t Mean Better - We’ve been taught to equate price to quality. If something is more expensive, it automatically means that it’s better right? You know what’s really better for you?

Be debt free, that’s what.


Send Micro Payments instead of a Big One - Some loans compound daily (read the fine print to find out which ones, or you can always call and ask) so the sooner you can send in payment, the better. Instead of sending money once a month, try sending in smaller amounts whenever you have money to save on interest. Also, look for ways to cut down the delivery time. For example, online bill pay or online payment might be faster than mailing out a check, which cuts down the interest further.


Consolidate Your Debt if Possible - Unless you can keep up with all the bills, sometimes it’s just easier to consolidate your debt. It might make sense to take a home equity loan for example to pay off all different credit card and auto loans if the interest works in your favor, not to mention that it’s much easier to manage one loan instead of six.




Sell All Unneeded Stuff - On ebay, craigslist, or anywhere you can. In addition, record the purchase price, selling price and the difference. The total of the difference is how much you have spent for temporary owning all these products. Now, tell your family that number.


Credit Cards are Loans - Credit card is not cash. Drill it in your hand that using your card is borrowing money that needs to be repaid.


Ask for a Lower Rate - Don’t be afraid to call your loan company up and try to negotiated, there is no shame and there is nothing to lose. Tell them why they should lower your rate and you might just succeed.


Success Breeds Success - Start hanging around people with the right mindset. Tell your friends who don’t share the same values to stay away. The right support system will help you accomplish your goals much faster.


Keep Trying to Trim Your Bills - Be persistent because there are always more ways to save money. Always.


Make a Plan - The great thing about having a plan is to see progress. I love it when I make a To-Do list and start crossing things out and I’m sure you will enjoy doing it as well.


Find a Debt Reduction Buddy - The idea is the same as having frugal friends. Accountability and encouragement will go a long way in helping you on your path to become debt free. Find a buddy and help each other reduce your respective debts. Have another monthly meeting with him/her, share this article, talk about ways to save and inspire each other to be financially free!
Get started today!

Tips on Budget Planning and Saving Money

Deciding to consolidate your debts is an excellent choice for many individuals, but making that decision is only the first step, learning how to manage your finances is the next step in ultimately becoming debtfree. Budget planning can help you identify how you spend your money and where you may be over spending. The goal in preparing a budget is to insure that your monthly expenses do not exceed your monthly income.

Below are some tips to assist you in starting off the New year on the right financial foot:

1. Write down your total monthly net income. Include all sources of income such as, salary, child support, pension, etc. Next, list all your monthly expenses, including your house or rent payment, food, gas, utilities, credit card payments, etc. Then subtract your monthly expenses from your total monthly income.

2. Look for areas where you can cut back and save some money.

3. Use the information to set a budget for yourself. Include approximately 5% to 10% for savings.

4. Review your budget on a monthly basis to determine how things are going. You may discover an area where your are overspending and can then adjust it accordingly.

Tips on Saving Money

1. Cut back home energy consumption by turning off lights when you are not using them and placing an air conditioner on a timer. You can also remove unnecessary phone options to cut down costs. Contact your local utility service providers and ask about their budgeting plans and programs to help you manage these expenses.

2. Shop at outlet or wholesale clubs. When you do shop, use lists to avoid impulse purchases.

3. Try bringing your lunch to work instead of having to buy everyday.

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Wisdom for the Last Days

Believers have an edge over the world that enables us to be successful, prosperous and productive, even in the midst of economic crisis. There is no question the world system, with its institutions and ways of doing things, is failing. Financial bailouts and rescue plans cannot change this fact. However, the Word of God is your guarantee of security in the midst of hard times. Now, more than ever, is the time to plug into the promises of God and remain focused on Him.

The Kingdom of God is a higher system that supersedes the world’s system. It is a system that has an abundance of resources, wisdom, and assistance available for you. While the world is talking about recession and existing on fear, you can tap into the infinite and unlimited resources of Heaven to get your needs met at any time, no matter what is going on around you.

One of the things God has made available to Christians is His wisdom. Wisdom is knowing what to do when you do not have the answers through your own natural ability. Wisdom is based on revelation knowledge that comes from God. As it pertains to financial security, a key to making sure your needs are met on a consistent basis is to tap into the wisdom of God where your money is concerned. Practical advice is just as important as the spiritual side of things. Since so many people struggle in the area of finances, it makes sense to pay attention to some basic tips to maximize your finances in the midst of economic instability.

1.Be a giver.

When you give from a pure heart, trusting God to meet your needs, you are guaranteed a harvest. Seedtime and harvest is a spiritual law that will work for anyone who will get involved. Being a giver is the way to prosper in the Kingdom of God. Instead of being one who hoards your finances out of fear, be willing to keep an open hand. This way, God can bless you in the same way you bless others.

2.Be frugal in your spending.

I am not saying you should not buy anything you like or desire, but allow God to direct your spending habits instead of buying things on impulse. Consider those things you absolutely need right now versus the things you can do without. Allow God to bless you with the desires of your heart at the right time. Do not spend money you do not have or live beyond your means. This is a principle of good stewardship which qualifies you for your next level.

3. Stay out of debt.

Debt is part of the world’s system, particularly when you find yourself using credit cards to pay your bills, buy items you cannot afford, or acquire things on credit to keep up appearances. A good rule of thumb is, if you cannot pay your credit card bill off every month, you should not buy things on credit. Only use the plastic if absolutely necessary, and if you know you have the cash to pay the bill. Do not take on any debt right now if you can avoid it and work diligently to pay off existing debt.

These three simple keys can help you tremendously during the difficult times in which we live. By adding the spiritual with the practical, you will access the supernatural power of God to transform your finances!

Scripture ReferencesMatthew 6:33Luke 6:38Luke 12:42Romans 13:8