Finding your purpose, that unique thing that you do, isn’t always so easy. Erika Simone, a missionary kid in Mexico, discusses how she found hers in today’s Welcome Wednesday Guest Post.
Erika Simone and the little people in her week.
“You do what no one else can do.”
My grandfather gave my father this bit of wisdom, years ago. He passed it on to me.
It has been invaluable.
It guides me when I’ve no idea what path to take. It anchors me when I face too many options. It has been used of God to show me His will.
“Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”*
What is my ministry?
Something no one else can do.
As I’ve come through life making decisions based on Grandpa’s saying and Scripture, I’ve slowly begun to discover my ministry, my purpose.
There are smaller decisions. “What should I do during my Christmas holidays?” “Should I accept this job as a part-time teacher?” To decide, I go back to Grandpa’s words. And I find an answer.
There are major decisions. “What should I study in university?” “Should I move to Veracruz?” I allow myself to be guided by Grandps’s words.
Ultimately, Grandpa’s saying has given my adult life purpose.
Grandpa’s saying led me to study translation.
Grandpa’s saying guided me to volunteer for Accelerated Christian Education.
Grandpa’s saying called me to write about reaching children with the Gospel.
Do you know what these things have in common?
They make my heartbeat jump to dangerous speeds.
They flush my face.
They brighten my eyes.
Grandpa’s saying has brought me to my passion, my purpose in life.
His wisdom showed me why God has placed me on this earth.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”**
Translating • Volunteering • Writing
Does that mean no one else can do those things? Not at all.
But, no one else is in the same place I am, with the ability to translate the Gospel literature that I do.
Therefore, I translate.
No one else has the amount of bilingual experience with Accelerated Christian Education that I do.
Therefore, I volunteer.
No one else writes what I do, the way I do, for the reason I do.
Therefore, I write.
You see, I’m not bragging about what I can do. I’m just showing you that God placed me in a particular area in my country, with a strange set of skills and a love for children.
Because He wanted me to be a translator/educational volunteer/writer.
See?
So, what about you? What is the one thing you can do that no one else can?
What is your purpose?
“But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”***
*II Timothy 4:5
**Jeremiah 29:11
***Exodus 9:16
Note: All Bible verses are quoted from the NKJV.
Erika Simone is a missionary kid by birth, a writer by passion and a Sunday school teacher by heart. She’s also a compulsive singer. She shares her love of children, writing and missions on her blog erikasimone.com. You can also find her at facebook.com/erikasimonewriter and twitter.com/ErikaSimoneT.
She also offers Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy and VIP one-on-one coaching program, both available under the weight loss tab. To book Teresa for your next event, check the Speaking tab on her website. Also check out her blog and Sweet Grace for Your Journey podcast under the tabs by those names.
“No one else writes what I do, the way I do, for the reason I do.” That really spoke to me because it’s so true. No one else has had my unique experiences, has the specific passions I have, knows why I write what I write. That means someone else can write on the exact same topic and have a totally different perspective. That’s why I love having guest posts. Thanks for sharing, Erika.
Thank you for inviting me to write this, Teresa. Often, when I write, I articulate things that are in me, but have never been stated clearly. This article helped put into words things I believe. I’m glad you profited from it. 🙂
I was confused at first because your name was not on it. Good post Erika.
It is the way most people do guest posts. That’s why I say in the first line that the post is one she wrote. She did an awesome job. If I were to put personal bylines on all guest posts, I’d have to add them as a contributor to my site. I did that to begin with but then it got cumbersome. It works better this way.
Thanks, Anne!