Blog Prompt: What Is Your Mission?

What is your mission?

I have been a missionary, with NAIM (North American Indigenous Ministries) for years, ministering to First Nations mostly in Kyuquot on the west coast of Vancouver Island in BC, Canada. I’m retired now, but, as they say, a missionary never really retires, the setting just changes. To me, mission is purpose!

My mission these days is to shed a little light into dark corners. To smile and say hello, to make someone feel of value in the moment. To ask how someone is doing because I really want to know. To care. I don’t always manage to achieve my mission but it is my main goal. To be kind whenever and wherever I can.

In our time at bible school, we learned that everyone needs to have a sense of these three things to survive well in life and they look for this validation and purpose in many different ways. The three needs are:

Belonging

Worth

Competence

Often they are searched for and satisfied initially in all the wrong places, especially if no one is providing these to them in better ways. The poster below illustrates something similar.

Faith in God gives us this kind of validation and purpose.

Acceptance: We belong to God. He accepts us. We can come to Him just as we are.

Value: He values us. Psalm 139:1-18 tells us just how much value we have in His eyes.

Attention: He is there for us when we need Him, when we pray, when we worship, when we mourn, and we are brought much needed joy and comfort by the presence of His Spirit.

God does these much needed things for us, and, because of that, we are enabled, by His Spirit, to do the same for others.

This is true validation. This gives us life purpose. Healing for our own soul and spirit. Encouragement and edification for others.

Love is not just some ephemeral, romantic idea. It’s practical. It is faith in action. See James 2;14-26

I’m remembering that Jesus said this to His disciples:

“By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

https://bible.com/bible/1588/jhn.13.35.AMP

I’m reminded of a little chorus we used to sing in church “They will know we are Christians by our love”

They will know we are Christians by our love

Author;

• Peter Scholtes

Lyrics:

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

Chorus: And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.

We Will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.

Copyright: 

Words: 1966 F.E.L. Publications. Assigned 1991 Lorenz Publishing Company (Admin. by Lorenz Corporation),Music: 1966 F.E.L. Publications. Assigned 1991 Lorenz Publishing Company (Admin. by Lorenz Corporation)

Love for the brethren, your fellow believers.

Love for your neighbour, whoever is next to you in any given moment.

Love in so many very practical ways!

Easy to say or to sing the words. Harder to put in to practical action……

But it’s my mission!

Thank you for the blog prompt!

Ann, January 11, 2024