To celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary, I brought these beauties.  I was pretty selective in choosing this bouquet. However, when I got it home, I realized several of the blooms were actually looking a bit wilted — it didn’t look like they would last long. But I refused to throw them away. 

I remembered reading that adding a little sugar and a little apple cider vinegar to the water helps preserve the life of cut flowers. Hmmm! Never did it before but decided to give it a try.  And look what happened!!!  The bouquet not only seemed to be revived, but the flowers also seemed stronger more resilient – – the colors seemed brighter and more vibrant!! Who would have thought that combining a little bit of something sweet and something sour would result in such beauty. 

You know, it’s the same with our lives!  We want EVERYTHING to be good (aka sweet) ALL THE TIME!  But that’s not what happens in life.  There are good and bad (aka sour, acidity, bitter) things that happen to all of us! So, why is that? In Romans 8:28, Paul writes, “God causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” (AMP) In other words, good plus bad (working together) equals good!  Sounds to me that the bad makes the good better!!Your assignment: Takes some time to consider some of the sour things that have happened in your life.  What lessons have you learned from those things?

Perhaps, like me, you have come to realize you’ve probably lived over half your life – – and with this realization you find yourself contemplating what you have or have not accomplished – – leaving you feeling unfulfilled at times.  You might even think it’s too late for you and it’s time to ‘hand things over to younger ones’.  NOT SO!!  No matter your age, you are vital.  In fact, you are the only you there will ever be!!  If you do not do what you were placed in your world to do, it will not get done (at least not the way you were intended to do it)!!  You are full of purpose and the greatness in you is waiting to be released.  In fact, the earth is groaning to see YOU (yeah, YOU – – the real YOU – – the YOU that God created you to be) manifest and release what’s in you.

God is not moved by your age (let us not forget about Abraham and Sarah!!)  Dare to step out!  I have!!  Officially launching this site at 70+ years old is just one of the results of me embracing this lesson.  I have a knowing that GOD has not finished with me yet!  In fact, I get the feeling that I’ve only just begun to live the life and fulfill the purpose GOD anointed and consecrated me for!!  And, I get the feeling you feel the same way, regardless of your age.  

In Psalm 139:14, with a thankful heart, David declares “I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”  That’s my declaration too. And, I’m on a journey of rediscovering just how full of wonder I am!  I invite you to join me! After all YOU are full of wonder — that’s what GOD said when HE made WONDER-FULL YOU!

Your challenge: In the next two days, take time to write down your GOD given purpose.  If you don’t know, ask GOD.