"THE WHOLE WORLD IS A STAGE AND EVERYBODY'S PLAYING A PART." WHAT'S YOUR PART?!!!!

ARE YOU SECURE IN YOUR ROLE? ARE YOU BELIEVABLE?

The R&B music group, The Fantastic Four released a song in 1967, titled, "The Whole World Is A Stage." When I first heard this song, I loved the jazzy beat of the song, but I instantly thought about the lyrics. At least the first few lines: The whole world is a stage and everybody's playing a part. The stage is set. The curtain goes up. The scene is a broken heart. (Act One). I was kind of young at the time, but I believed these lyrics to be profound. Use your imagination just for a moment, you wake up one day and you are part of a family you did not choose, you are living in a home that you had nothing to do with, obtaining or sustaining, etc. So, it is not so far-fetched to think that maybe we are a bunch of actors playing a part. Remember, I was young at the time. Not only that, the day you realize that you are alive and a part of the human family through no fault of your own or input on your part is quite humbling. It can and sometimes beg the question: "Why?" Not in a cynical way, but in a curious way.

After a number of years of stumbling, fumbling; (I mean living), you kind of figure out that you are here for a reason. Some say our destiny is written in the stars, some say we are to search diligently for it and live it out. I am not here to tell you what to feel. However, I think we can agree that we all need a purpose for being. The Fantastic Four sort of borrowed from Shakespeare's play, As You Like It, where he writes, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." Nice try Shakespeare, but you did not go far enough. God designed the roles, and He selected who would play which part. "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.

The truth is (according to the Bible), we were all born to fulfill a certain role as ordained by God. Some of us are endowed with certain gifts and talent. If we are fortunate, we discover these early, develop and practice them and use them over a lifetime. Sometimes these gifts and talents are dscovered later in life, and the recipients still can benefit from them and bless others. "We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us..." Romans 12:6-8. According to the apostle Paul, we should not think too highly of ourselves, we should recognize that God has gifted us according to our faith and by his desire. It is nothing that we did to deserve it.

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And, if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." Dalai Lama. We are to be a blessing to someone else. Initially, or for a long time, we may not know our purpose. But, we do have one. When I was younger, I believed that I was destined for greatness (well, not huge greatness). More accurately put, I believed that my role in life was to make a difference in the world. To tell the truth, I did not and do not feel that I have made a difference on a grand scale. Full disclosure, many people have told me that I have made a difference in their lives. In my roles as sister, wife, mother, caretaker, grandmother, teacher, adminstrator, church school director, I finally acknowledged that perhaps I did touch some people. I believe that my biggest success has been to grow my faith in God and to encourage others to do this by sharing my faith.

We were put here (on this earth) to be a living testimony to the love and grace of God. At a very early age, my grandmother told me that God had something for me to do. Like "Job" in the Bible, my particular calling was unknown to me and my grandmother did not reveal it to me. Let's take Job, he was a man who was upright in his ways before God, yet all manner of calamity befell him. Job never knew why. He did not know that he was called to be a witness to the power, mercy, love of God, and the blessing of faith. (Please read the Book of Job). We have the benefit of scripture so we know that Job was being tested by God. The test was to determine whether Job's piety was rooted in his prosperity. But faced with the appalling loss of his possessions, his children, and finally his own health, Job refused to curse God. All these many thousands of years later, Job's experience blesses us; we have come to understand that there can be purpose in suffering. Job did not get why he was so aflicted. His attempts to figure out what was happening to him is relatable. We need to turn to God and put our cares and fears in his hands. We may not know why we are going through, but God knows. Let me make it clear, nobody wants to suffer, but God is right there in the midst.

Job came through victoriously because he did not lose his faith in God. As a result, God blessed him with more than he lost. His faith was stronger than the awful speculations and bad advice that he received from his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar). They thought they were comforting him with their words, but it ended up being a blamefest in that they were trying to convince Job that he had done something wrong or God would not be punishing him; they believed that Job had sinned and that he brought this on himself. This was so far from the truth. Job did search himself and maintained that he was righteous in God's eyes, he had been faithful, and had lived in accordance with God's commands. He took the case directly to God. He got a reality check. Read the Book of Job. Please. The book of Job is about unmerited suffering and Job's attempts to understand why he is suffering. You will be encouraged and you can then encourage someone else who is experiencing suffering that they believe they are not responsible for bringing on themselves or just suffering.

While Job may not have gotten the answer he wanted, he walked away understanding that God's ways are not our ways and that we just need to trust Him in all things. Job passed the test. He had kept the faith, and he was rewarded for it. As mentioned earlier, he was blessed with more than he had before. Only God can do that! Bottom line is, we can trust that God will work it all out and will turn things for our good. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.

Back to me: I was always looking for "the big thing" that I was going to do for God or that I would do and be recognized for in my life. But, unknowingly, it was through a series of small things done in the name and spirit of God that I realized added up to "the big thing."

I conducted workshops on "Finding Your Passion," still in search of "the big thing." After much study and several workshops, I discovered that my passion is to share my faith with others and to strive to be more of an example of love, kindness, generosity and peace; to be more like Jesus. Interestingly enough, people (friends, family, co-workers, etc.) have been telling me for years that they have benefitted from being around me for just those reasons. (Can you believe that?). It was recently Teacher's Appreciation Week, and I received several wonderful gifts from my students. There was one that really touched my heart. It was a journal and a pen. On the journal the words written were as follows: "May You Be Proud of The Work You Do, The Person You Are, And The Difference You Make." The pen was inscribed: "Thank you for being Awesome!"

I am not tooting my own horn, but if this is the impact I am having on people, then I say, To God Be The Glory! He who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it. "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion..." Philippians 1:6. I also measured my actions in light of scripture. Am I in line (on target) with the two greatest commandments? "Jesus replied, "Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like it." "Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:34-40. With God's grace, I am moving forward in these areas.

"Your life is like a play with several acts. Some of the characters who enter have short roles to play, others much larger. Some are villians and others are good guys. But all of them are necessary; otherwise, they wouldn't be in the play. Embrace them all, and move on to the next act." Wayne Dyer

Our role is to remain faithful to God and to do as He has commanded. Can you handle it?

1. Seek God and His wisdom.

2. Be kind to yourself and others.

3. Be true/authentic in all your dealings and relationships; spiritual and personal.

4. Pray and ask God for direction and the will and fortitude to follow though on all plans and committments.

5. Let go, and let God. You cannot do anything in your own strength.

6. Pray for a clean heart so that you are not hindered from doing what is right. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10.

7. Understand that bad things do happen to good people. God knows why. Remember, we live in a fallen world. Pray without ceasing and turn everything over to God.

8. Keep doing good. "Let us not become weary in doing good." Galatians 6:9. Pray for yourself and others. Help the less fortunate. Be generous in your giving.

9. Live authentically without worry. God has it all under control.

God indwells us, and He is alive and well. Join me in worshiping Him with gratitude and joy, knowing that His love for us is everlasting! Your future is secure in His hands. Trust me on this! May God bless you in all your endeavors. Keep the faith! God is watching!

Yours, Yvette

Thank you for your continued support. I remain grateful and deeply appreciative. You can comment at vttlane@gmail.com.

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