Tag Archives: Purpose

The Obligatory Year End / New Year Post

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Elena Bowling

It’s the last day of 2021 and all over SM people are reflecting on their year. Most of these posts are celebratory and I enjoy seeing their highlights. There are a few that are somewhat darker, more difficult to read … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, Christ, Church, faith, God, grief, hope, Jesus, life, Lord, Love, obedience, Purpose, truth | Leave a comment

Decade

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Elena Bowling

This may sound too simplistic but I think there are basically three kinds of people in this world; those who don’t know Jesus yet (or have rejected Him), those who have loved and followed Him since childhood, and those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, blessing, change, Christ, Church, faith, freedom, God, gospel, growth, heart, hope, Jesus, life, Lord, Love, obedience, peace, prayer, Purpose, salvation, scripture, trust, truth | Leave a comment

Moments

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Elena Bowling

Two months have passed since the announcement. Eight weeks have now dwindled down to a handful of days. Yesterday was my last Monday staff meeting. Today my last weekly outreach meeting with our senior pastor, last coffee-shop meeting with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blessing, change, Christ, Church, community, faith, friends, God, Jesus, journey, life, Love, ministry, Mission, obedience, pastor, People, Purpose, Service, trust | Leave a comment

View from the 2nd row

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Elena Bowling

When I gave my life to Christ it was without fanfare. In that moment of surrender, simple words lifted from my heart to His. Kneeling on the floor in Livermore, CA, face buried in my hands, feeling so exposed. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, blessing, Christ, Church, faith, God, gospel, growth, heart, hope, Jesus, joy, life, Lord, Love, ministry, Mission, obedience, peace, People, prayer, Purpose, Service, truth | Leave a comment

Gifts

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Elena Bowling

We had been talking about short term mission trips. I showed her pictures from our first trip to Haiti, played a voice recording of my goddaughter singing Mighty To Save, shared a few special memories. “You mean, there’s things I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adult, bible, blessing, Christ, Church, community, faith, God, gospel, growth, heart, hope, Jesus, life, Lord, Love, ministry, Mission, obedience, Purpose, scripture, senior, Service, truth | Leave a comment

Forward

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Elena Bowling

I took a little extra time getting up this morning after the 5:15 alarm. An extra cup of coffee. Extra time in God’s word, extra time talking with The Lord. In February we moved away. But in a very real … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, Christ, Church, faith, God, growth, heart, hope, Jesus, life, Lord, Love, ministry, Mission, obedience, peace, prayer, Purpose, Service, truth | Leave a comment

Six Months

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Elena Bowling

I knew before actually arriving here that God was up to something. Our on-site interview this past January was really more of a visit. Comfortable and welcoming. During that short weekend we heard pieces of stories of ordinary people used … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, blessing, Christ, Church, faith, fear, God, growth, heart, hope, Jesus, life, Lord, Love, ministry, Mission, obedience, peace, Purpose, scripture, Service, truth | Leave a comment

Exchanging The Lie

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Elena Bowling

I finished this mornings reading in Ecclesiastes and was a little bummed out. Here was Solomon … a king who was blessed by God, powerful, wise and wealthy beyond all imagination … and he concludes that everything is meaningless. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged age, bible, blessing, Christ, Church, fear, God, gospel, growth, heart, hope, Jesus, lie, life, Lord, Love, ministry, Mission, obedience, prayer, Purpose, scripture, Service, truth | Leave a comment

Response

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Elena Bowling

It’s a safe assumption that all of us see life through the lens of our own experiences. Our family of origin, childhood, work life, belief systems, friendships, struggles, successes, failures and so much more all shape the way we view … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged calling, Christ, christian, Church, discipleship, God, gospel, growth, Jesus, journey, kingdom, life, Lord, ministry, Mission, obedience, Purpose, Service | Leave a comment

Discerning His Heart

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Elena Bowling

Have you read these words and been flooded with fear and trepidation? I think even a casual believer in God pauses at the following verses. Every time I encounter them, discomfort definitely rises. I’m quick to want to skip over … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, blessing, Children, Christ, faith, father, fear, God, gospel, heart, Jesus, life, Lord, Love, Mission, obedience, prayer, Purpose, scripture, truth | Leave a comment