Chrystina—follower of Christ–was radiant as she stood before family and friends gathered to celebrate her graduation from Capstone Recovery Center. She had reason to beam. She had successfully completed seven months in recovery from drug addiction—seven months in which she had not only laid down her addiction but more importantly had come face to face with who she was in the past, who she is now in Jesus Christ, and who she wants to become in the future as she follows her Lord. She was victorious—and it showed on her face.

It had been my privilege to watch her grow from a timid, scared young woman into a leader and a woman of prayer.  As chair of the board at Capstone and a volunteer in the ministry, I had served as her mentor as we read and discussed the full New Testament, worked through the biblical 12 Steps to Conquering Chemical Dependency, and studied Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God, and Rick Warren’s What on Earth Am I Here For. (By the way, she had completed more than 20 Bible studies with other volunteers during her time at Capstone! Participants are immersed in the Word!)

I had also had the privilege of watching her live out her faith as she volunteered each week to help me prepare supper for approximately 50 people who attend our Celebrate Recovery ministry at Trading Ford Baptist Church every Tuesday.

A growing prayer warrior, she volunteered to begin an intercessory prayer ministry for Celebrate Recovery and then asked Pastor Mike Motley if she could lead a similar ministry for our church. The Lord was using her in a mighty way. It was amazing to watch how the Great Physician was healing and remolding her! What a blessing not only to her but to those around her.

After she received her certificate of completion from Dr. Oscar Ramirez, director of counseling at Capstone, and her “crown” reflecting her status as a daughter of the King of the Universe from Miriam Ramirez, executive director, it was my turn to ask her two questions.

“Chrystina, what is your mission statement? What is your purpose in life?” I asked.

Through tears of joy and with a smile on her face, she quoted Deuteronomy 30:19-20.

^“ I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;  that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NKJV)

Her mission? Choose life! Love the Lord, obey him, and commit yourself to him.

Oh, that we would all share that purpose statement!

I then asked her about her ministry plans. (All graduates of Capstone are encouraged to minister to others for it is in giving of ourselves that we get out of the selfishness that dominates us.)

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

Her plans: to continue the two prayer ministries she has begun and to become a part of the Celebrate Recovery children’s ministry.

Wow! With her newly found faith walk, a love for his Word, and a commitment to ministry, Chrystina has what she needs to live the abundant life.

^“The thief (Satan) comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. (John 10:10 AMP)

As I reflect now on Chrystina’s graduation and her commitments to the Lord, my mind wanders back to a time over 20 years ago when I wrestled with my own purpose.

It was 1996, and I was spending three weeks at Harvard University in a workshop for community college leaders. While I learned a great deal about the topic at hand, I learned even more about myself and God’s call on my life.

After the workshop each day, I spent hours and hours walking and talking with the Lord and asking him to help me define His purpose for me. I was reaching a crossroad in my career where I had some important decisions to make. Which path would I take? It became very clear during this time that the Lord was calling me to leave community college life and follow him elsewhere.

Three years later, at another conference, this time at Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center, I finally felt the Lord’s more specific call. As the worship leader read God’s word one night, I knew the Lord was speaking to me:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” (Isaiah 61:1-3 NLT)

That was it! He was calling me to be his hands and feet and work among the broken, addicted, grieving people in our world. Verse 3 took on new meaning: I was to be his spiritual “arborist” and help grow “great oaks of righteousness”—people with such strong roots in Christ that they would never again be blown over by Satan or by their own selfish desires. 

It took years of preparation but in his time, he led me to help begin two Celebrate Recovery ministries: one at Trading Ford Baptist Church and then another at the women’s prison in Troy. Several years later, He miraculously brought Miriam and Oscar Ramirez to our church with a shared vision, and Capstone Recovery Center was born.

What about you? Have you wrestled with the Lord and determined your purpose statement? Have you so refined it that you could write it on a t-shirt, something we were asked to do back at the Harvard conference? If so, you know how helpful it can be. It simplifies life. You know what you need to do—and what you can eliminate or stop doing. It will define your ministries and keep you from wasting precious time. We were each created to glorify our Creator, but “how” is the question. The psalmist put it this way:

“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:16-17 NKJV)

Life is short. Our days are numbered. How wonderful to be in the center of his will! I pray you have found your calling and your ministries. If not, I hope you will set aside time to spend with the Lord and seek his revelation and guidance. You won’t be sorry!

I’d love to hear from you. Your comments are always welcome. Many blessings as we celebrate His death, burial, and resurrection this weekend. In His purpose, He made ALL THE DIFFERENCE!