Thank You Notes Pt. 4: Call With a Purpose - 11/26/2023

Pastor Carlos Huertas   Ephesians 1:3-7 (NIV) When a man or woman believes/trusts in Him, they are complete. Scripture tells us that we have everything, all His blessings. We are not missing or need anything, we have it all. Being guided by the Lord is a life with purpose, a life with gratitude. When we understand that we have been chosen for something, a plan that is way bigger than us, this is something that many people can’t understand because there are many people trying to work and develop their own plans. There are many people trying to have a better marriage, trying to be a better person, to have the dream job. And there’s nothing wrong with that. God placed on us dreams to conquer and desire for better, but He has provided everything that we need, whether in our marriages or our personal dreams, we invite God.  In the scripture today the Apostol invites us to believe in His plans. He chooses us to be holy and, when I meditated on that word, I found out that it means perfection; no religion. That’s our purpose. How many headaches would be avoided if we understood God’s plans for our lives and families. Because when we don’t understand God’s plans, not only does it affect us, but it also affects others, especially the ones that we love the most.   - Blessed us (preparation, provision)  - For He chose us (election, predestined) - To be Holy (plan and purpose)   Maybe you are here and today you are still wondering, what is God’s plan in my life or maybe you don’t have yet a relationship with Jesus. He has given everything for us. His sacrifice on the cross, His blood shed in Love for you and me, was to give us purpose. Jesus did not die on the Cross for us to feel comfortable. He died on the cross to give us purpose and give us a calling. The Apostol Paul mentioned this way to be Holy (that means set apart) even when we don’t deserve it. Something that we have been learning is to be grateful to God for what He has done. When we are that kind of people, it opens the doors to obedience like Pastor John mentioned the other day. But also, being a grateful person makes us a person who will love more, give more, and serve more. Colossians 3:17 (NIV) We live in a community that is broken. We hear people struggling with addictions, families getting divorce, and we need people that understand that we have been chosen. That God has blessed us and we have been set apart to help our community. God is bringing those people into our country, our community. We can be mad with God and ask why He is doing that, or we can just say, “Lord I’m available. Use me.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)