One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.
mind over matter
what matters most
what does it matter?
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Does anything I do really matter? I think we all ask this from time to time, even if it's not out loud. Maybe out of frustration, when you have been working hard at something but never seem to make progress. Maybe out of weariness, when you just wonder whether your efforts are making any difference. I've questioned in those situations, but lately I've also questioned whether it matters because I'm not sure what my purpose is.
Over the past several weeks, I've had more than a few days when I felt very much like an NPC and wondered whether anything I was doing was making much of an impact. An NPC, if you don't recognize the term, is a "non playable character" in an interactive video game. The NPC functions as an extra and isn't controlled by a player but by the program, so they have a very limited role. We sometimes refer to a real person as an NPC if they seem to have a flat personality, or seem to say and do the same couple of things no matter what else is going on. No one wants to be an NPC, because they just exist and take up space but don't have an impact on the story outcome.
A couple of weeks ago, when I was feeling a bit down, God reminded me of the parable of the talents and the master's response to the two faithful servants:
"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy.'"
~Matthew 25:21~
I tend to think of that parable as focusing on using our resources as God would want us to, but that day God showed it to me in a different light. I may feel like I'm not making a difference, like few people notice whether I show up or not, like I'm easily replaceable, or like I just don't have much of value to offer at the moment. But God told me to be faithful over my 'few things'. My few possessions, my small home, my few small responsibilities, my little bit of money, my small circle of friends, my little bit of free time.
If God knows the number of hairs on our heads, knows all our thoughts and everything about us, he is purposeful in when and where we in the world. We matter, we each have a purpose. It's not like we decide to follow Jesus and then he hunts up someplace we might fit and something we can do. He has a place prepared for us, not just someday in heaven, but here as well.
For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
~Ephesians 2:10~
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
~Romans 8:28~
We matter because we are part of God's story.
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
~I Corinthians 3:7-8~
To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun? ~Katharine Graham
You matter. That smile you shared could be the sun on someone's darkest day. ~Amy Leigh Mercree
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I enjoyed your post this morning. I used the Corinthians verse at my last Bible journaling class. Makes me think if "Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people," Col 3:23 This is one of the verses for next month.? "I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me." Ps 57:2. God cares and we matter! Have a blessed weekend!
ReplyDeleteRemembering that God has a purpose for us to fulfill and that he is fulfilling that purpose in us makes such a difference in our mindset, doesn't it? thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteOooo, that last quote by Mercree is so powerful, and so true. I was so touched by the number of folks this weekend who ran to open a door for me, who gave me a smile, you helped push me in my wheelchair just into the shade. Precious. I often say 'people are the worst' because so often we see only the evil that people do. But this weekend my heart was surely warmed by a number of total strangers.
ReplyDeleteI was not familiar with the acronym?? NPC. But have felt like one - now that I know what that is - more often lately. I start to do something...to work on a scrapbook page, to write, to paint and think to myself, 'why?' - why am I even doing this? who cares? will all of this just get tossed when I am gone - or even before, when we move into some kind of assisted living facility down the road. But then I remind myself I am NOT dead yet!! And I enjoy writing, painting, scrapping. And I try to think of those activities as gifts God has given me to bring me pleasure and to be shared.
Hope by writing this post you realized how much the things you do matter. To YOU!! And to those who 'know' and KNOW you!!
those little acts of kindness can mean so very much! I'm so glad that you experienced such thoughtfulness!
DeleteI do think that just creating something beautiful that honors God and brings us joy is such a gift, and part of fulfilling God's purpose for us, even if it seems like no one else appreciates it. It's a way of expressing our relationship with our Creator, and that is, after all, what we are meant for - relationship with him!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and encouraging comment!
Love this, none of us are NPC's. Our lives matter and are meant to bring glory to God in all of the good, the challenging and the heartbreaking parts!
ReplyDeleteYes we matter so much to God and to others, but we do need to remind ourselves of that sometimes don't we. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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