My favorite time of year is quickly approaching. Autumn temperatures, seasonal clothing, pumpkin spice, anticipation of the first frost. Yes, these thoughts bring a smile to my face, but they are not the main reason I look forward to September.

September means women’s Bible study is kicking off and there will be thousands of women across the globe diving into new studies. Some have been in Bible study for years while others are just starting for the first time. Regardless of what season of life they are in, they will all come before God and His Word with open hearts ready to learn.

It’s an odd year for me however. I’m in a new atmosphere at church and I’m still getting to know the women and will be taking a break from leading so that I can devote more time to learning my new job. I thought I would still continue to lead a group of ladies I’ve been with for several years, but the hostess has decided to take a break too. I have been given an opportunity to lead a new group of ladies and embrace that prospect with enthusiasm.

So you see, nothing is the same. Except that we all study the same Words. We all worship the same God. We all serve the same Savior. So it really isn’t all that different.

I have a book that sits on my desk all the time…okay, there are actually two. The Bible and “Pray with Purpose: Live with Passion” by Debbie Williams. I’ve mentioned it before. It’s one of my favorite books on prayer and how we can praise God through the alphabet.

But what I’ve not mentioned is what is on the first page of this book. You know the page with the copyright information, the ISBN, the publisher information. There is something very exciting on this page of this book.

The publisher if Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. At the very top are these words.

“OUR PURPOSE AT HOWARD BOOKS IS TO:

• Increase faith in the hearts of growing Christians
• Inspire holiness in the lives of believers
• Instill hope in the hearts of struggling people everywhere

BECAUSE HE’S COMING AGAIN!”

Wow! Wouldn’t you love to work for a company whose purpose directs everyone to Jesus? Okay, I guess I do. I am so blessed!

So what if this isn’t just the purpose of a company. What if it is each of our purposes? I believe it is.

According to Jesus, His mission was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), but He also gave us a mission. To make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

We are to be pointing others to Jesus all the time. Regardless of where we are, where we work, what we’re doing, Jesus must shine.

If each of us adopted these three ideas, implemented them into our own lives and then shared them with others, I believe we’d live in a different world.

Increase faith.

The Apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus shared these words with them. “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17:6 – NIV)

The Apostle Paul thanked God for the Thessalonians. Take a look at why he was thankful. “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3 – NIV)

When our faith increases, we are able to do far more than we could possibly imagine and through that faith, our love for others grows.

Inspire holiness.

We find several passages of Scripture that lead us live holy lives. Let’s take a look at just a few.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1 – NIV)

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4 – NIV)

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” (Ephesians 5:3 – NIV)

And if these aren’t enough, here are a few more to consider. 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; 2 Timothy 2:20-21; Hebrews 10:10-14; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15; 2 Peter 3:11.

Instill hope.

Where would we be without hope? Sometimes it is all we have to keep going. But God has given us a great hope. One that will help us when we are ready to give up. What a gift we can share with others.

Read through these two passages to see how early believers were inspired by hope.

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.” (Colossians 1:21-23a – NIV)

“We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3 – NIV)

Faith, holiness, hope. Three elements that are vital to our spiritual walk. As believers in Christ, let’s strive to increase, inspire and instill them within our own lives and then share these blessings with others.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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