Finding Significance 2

3-33pm

I’m sure I’ve written about significance before, but I’ve been thinking about it, so you get a couple more of my ideas. More than 30 years ago when I had to decide what I was going to do after school, the idea of nursing was a good one. Images of Florence Nightingale sacrificially serving the armed forces in the Crimean War seemed so noble and significant.

Loving God and people, I wanted to serve mankind in a similar way. Going into nursing seemed the way to do it and so I came to Cape Town in the dying days of 1982 and on 1st January 1983, my nursing career began. And I enjoyed it. I learned about significance in nursing. Significance means service. If you want to be significant, you must be able to serve. That’s the root of significance. If you look at all the people who have made a significant difference in the past they have sacrificially served. You cannot have great significance without great service.

Significance does not happen overnight. It is built one day at a time. If you want your life to be greatly significant, be happy to serve anyone.

In a similar vein, I was challenged today in reading through my Breaking Free journal regarding how obedient I am to the Word of God. If I believe God (which I do) and I believe the Bible to be true (which I do), why is it that I lack obedience in some areas of Biblical teaching? I know the answer….in fact there are a few – it doesn’t suit me – it makes me feel uncomfortable – it’s not my gift!  Yet, if I want my life to be significant, I have to break away from that old mold and start living life in obedience within my weaknesses. That’s tough.

The other thing about significance is you only need to touch ONE life and you would have been significant. So how about starting today – 4th September – and try and do something kind or good that impacts a person’s life each day. Be significant to them, just once. No one else may ever know about it. They may not know your name. They may never see you again, but they also may never forget you.

A life of significance begins with one person impacting another and not stopping. The more you serve others, the more significance your life takes on. Not only will you change the day of the person you serve, but you will change your day as well.

Tomorrow marks the 17th anniversary since the death of someone very significant. At the age of 48, Mother Teresa began a life of service  within the slums of Calcutta. In the early days of her ministry to the poor on the poverty-stricken streets of Calcutta, she had no income and had to beg for food. She started a school (practical) and began to see to the needs (service) of the poor and starving. From then on, and for most of the next, almost 4o years, Mother Teresa’s life took on a significance far exceeding most other people. It was through a life of service.

We may not all be able to be Mother Teresas, but we can be a Titus to someone in need.

His significance comes out in the New Testament and was spoken about by Paul. Paul, this giant of the Christian faith; out spoken; determined; a strong leader & seemingly fearless. Yet he shares a brief testimony in 2 Corinthians 7:5-7 that reveals exhaustion, harassment, external conflict and internal fear. That sounds familiar doesn’t it? We’ve been there before. Verse 6 begins with 2 of my favourite words in all the Bible “But God.” In this instance it goes onto say, “BUT GOD, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of TITUS…” Today, you may feel like Paul felt, BUT GOD will come through for you. God will comfort you and relieve the exhaustion, harassment, external conflict, internal fear or whatever other overwhelming emotion you are struggling with. That’s what God does. And often He uses people to do it.

 Be a Titus and look out for those in need of encouragement. The people closest to you may feel conflicted and fearful. Be an instrument in God’s hand to comfort them. That’s where you will find your significance.

Keep the smile going.

God bless you!

In His Grip,

Helga xx 🙂

Gratitude Pic…Getting fit….a fab morning run with Sue, Riana and Mel…