Tina: 0:01

Hello and welcome to Walk the Walk, the podcast where faith gets real. Your feet hit the pavement, and following Jesus means more than just talking the talk. Here we dive into the gritty, glorious, sometimes awkward journey of living out our faith in everyday life, whether you're crushing it or crawling through it. You are in the right place. You're crushing it or crawling through it? You are in the right place. And just so we're clear, this podcast is sponsored by Jesus, not because he wrote a check, but because he paid it all. So lace up your spiritual sneakers, friend. Let's walk this out together, one honest, grace-filled step at a time. Welcome back to Walk the Walk, the podcast that reminds you following Jesus isn't just something we believe, it's something we live, and today we're diving into something we all wrestle with at some point purpose. This week's podcast comes from our journal. Jesus Helped Me Do Better, and if you haven't gotten your journals, you know they're still available to buy, and so we are looking at prompt number 24 on page 24. Jesus invites you to live with meaning and be a part of something bigger. What do you think your purpose is, and how might following him give you a clearer direction?

Tina: 1:30

You know, I look back at my life and I think of all the things I've done. You know, my first career I was a hairdresser and I did it for a couple of years. I enjoyed it, but once I got married it wasn't a career I felt like I could do as a married woman, but regardless. So I've always taken care of Jeff's haircuts all our married life. Now that he's had that stroke, getting out to take care of something like that was a major feat and it was like you know I know it doesn't sound very like. Oh well, tina, big deal, you cut his hair. No, it was a big deal. It was a big deal to cut his hair and to shave his face and to take care of that for him and even to this day, even though now we could go out and do that. He doesn't need to because he has me.

Tina: 2:24

But there's a lot of things in my life that I've done. A lot of things I've learned as a sign language interpreter. For over 40 years I have been in everybody's business as an interpreter. For those of you who know what interpreting is like, we're in everybody's business Every single day. I was in somebody's life. Either they were hearing or they were deaf. They were professional, they were not professional, they were men, they were women, they were anything you can imagine. I've been in for the last 40 years, Kind of like behind the scenes, and I learned so much about so many things that I almost became dangerous. It was kind of like you know when you know a little bit, but you don't know a lot. I still learned a lot of things that have been able to help me in the journey with Jeff, because you know, jeff has been through that brain bleed. He had his foot, some of it, amputated, and then the stroke.

Tina: 3:24

And I believe that what God has given me my knowledge, my abilities, my skills have been able to help me to be the best caregiver I can be, even though I'm his wife first. I believe that God has equipped me to be the best caregiver, equipped me to be the best caregiver. So what am I here for? Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing? Is there more than this? Have you ever asked yourself those questions? Well, let me give you some scripture and you might want to get a pen and paper out and write down. Ephesians 2.10 says for we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do good things. He's planned for us long ago. I just told you I was 20 when I was a hairdresser. I'm 65. We're talking 45 years ago that he started to equip me to be able to do the things that I'm able to do.

Tina: 4:34

Let me just break this down for you. You yes, you are not a random accident. You're God's masterpiece. That means he created you for a purpose, for a purpose. And guess what? That purpose isn't something you have to go and dig and look for like a buried treasure. It's already been planned for you by God himself. It's like a blueprint, and God's hand created that blueprint for you. Now I'm here to tell you there are some people who will never follow that blueprint never for one reason or another. And it just could be they don't want to.

Tina: 5:20

I'm not following what God wants me to do, but as a Christian, we all have the ultimate purpose. That's to glorify God and enjoy a relationship with him through Jesus Christ. That means living a life that reflects his love, his truth and his holiness, not just for personal, but to help others come to know him too. How do other people get to know him Through you? You may say, hey, don't ask me. I read my Bible but I'm not able to tell you this or that.

Tina: 6:02

Well, I'm going to do a shameless plug here for my journal and the book that I have written Learning About Christianity and Learning About Jesus Without Feeling Overwhelmed. These are books, simple reading books that have a lot of information in it that can help you and can help others. If you're somebody that's like I don't know what to say when they ask me, I clam up. You know who is the Holy Spirit, what is the Trinity? Well, give them the book and tell them after you read this book and I think most people would be able to understand it. And then come back to me if you have any questions. Or sit down and do a Bible study with them, or do a book study with them. Or do a book study with them, because that's what ministry is all about. So here's how this all plays out Love God and love others. And you know I'm writing the book. Jesus Loves you, but I don't. And I know people cringe and they hate to hear, they even hate me to say it, but it's the truth. There's no way we can love everybody like Christ does. There's no way I. There's some people I don't like Reading.

Tina: 7:15

Matthew 22, 37 through 39 says this is the foundation of all Christian living and probably one of the most hardest things, I believe, for us as Christian people, make disciples. Matthew 28, 19 through 20 says Share the gospel and help others grow in faith. Share these books. Loan your book out, write notes in it, write notes to them. Have them get back with you so that you could talk it through together. Live a holy and obedient life.

Tina: 7:58

First Peter, 1, 15 through 16, says not perfect, but continually turning to God. Continually turning to God. I messed up, lord. I messed up. I messed up. Guess what, lord, I messed up. Continually going to Him, I think it will bring you closer to the perfection that you're striving for. Never arriving at perfect, but getting closer. Use your gifts to serve.

Tina: 8:33

In Romans 12, 4 through 8, every believer has a role in the body of Christ. You may say no, not me, not me. And he'll say yes, you, I would not ask you. I've equipped you, I know what you can do. I made you, I created you. There's no excuse that you can give me. You're not going to surprise me with oh geez, tina, I didn't know you couldn't do that. I thought I gave you those abilities. Show Christ's character in yourself.

Tina: 9:07

In Galatians 5, 22 through 23,. The fruit of the Spirit should shape your life. People should look at you and look at me and say I see Christ, instead of saying are you a Christian? Never a good question to be asked as a Christian. Never a good question to be asked as a Christian. Have hope in eternal life. In Philippians 3, 20 through 21,. Christians live with the future in mind, your eternal future, not just the present. So simply put know Jesus, live like Jesus and share Jesus. It can't get any more simpler than that.

Tina: 9:55

So often we think our purpose is tied to our jobs, our bank accounts, how many people like our posts or how many times we mess up in a week. But Jesus gives us a better answer. Following him is the path to healing, real purpose. When you walk with Jesus, you realize your life means something. Even your pain isn't wasted. It's being used. You don't have to be perfect to be powerful in his hands. Think about that. The moment that broke you, your failures, your detours. Jesus can use all of it and he will.

Tina: 10:43

So if you're feeling stuck or wondering if your life even counts for anything, hear this it does. You were made to reflect God's love, serve others and shine a light in places that desperately need it. And folks look at the world today, at all the darkness. It's out of control. Let me ask you have you been looking for purpose in all the wrong places? Can you see how even your hardest seasons have shaped you? So what's one thing that you can do this week, or even today, to serve someone in Jesus's name?

Tina: 11:36

Here's a simple prayer that I encourage you to pray. Jesus, I don't want to chase after empty things anymore. Remind me that my purpose is in you. Use my gifts, my wounds and my story, all of it For your glory, amen. Now, before I sign off, just remember your purpose isn't found in striving. It's found in someone who already loves you, someone who already has a plan for your life, a blueprint for your life, and his name is Jesus. Thank you for walking with me today.

Tina: 12:21

Friends, if this has encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to hear. They matter too. I'm going to see you next time on Walk the Walk, but I want to let you know that our next podcast is going to come from the journal, on page 28. Life can feel chaotic and stressful. Are there any areas in your life where you need the kind of peace Jesus promises, a peace that stays with you no matter what you're going through, stays with you no matter what you're going through, and I know we all would love to have that peace. So remember this podcast is proudly sponsored by Jesus. No paid ads. He paid it all.