I think that many people in our culture today strive and work towards a life that is “extraordinary.” They want to be the next big thing. Or they think adventure and excitement will be the only thing that will fulfill them, make them whole. Our culture, desires so desperately to be known by the world. You have to be famous. You have to have adventure. And if you don’t accomplish these things you are a failure. But isn’t this an exhausting way to live?
If you were to look at my life you would see a very “ordinary” life. I found a career, bought a house, volunteered where I could, enjoyed my family, but my life would look very ordinary from the outside. You know what though- I am 100% ok with that. Because I came to the conclusion many years ago that God’s definition of an “extraordinary” life is very different that what our culture has to say.
After looking at God’s Word and examining God’s heart for His people I have come to this conclusion: Any life can be extraordinary if it is a life lived in obedience to God and His will for your life. It is just that simple.
Follow my logic here: First, God loves me completely. Second, God has a plan for each of us, right? He has a plan to prosper us and give us a life that will be filled with joy and more importantly filled with deep purpose. So, His plan, no matter how difficult, is the best plan for my life. Logic then states that if I will just be obedient to this God who loves me completely and has the best plan for my life, my life will indeed be extraordinary.
Extraordinary looks different in God’s eyes. Its about having an impact for Him. It’s about loving His people well. The definition has definitely flipped! Extraordinary = Life devoted to God. God’s Words says this about living a life devoted to Him:
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalms 119:9-11
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:9
These are just a few verses that point us in a very different direction when it comes to the definition of success and what we would call an “extraordinary” life. They say God cares about if our hearts are devoted to Him! He cares if we live a life that points to Him and speaks of Him! Now these aren’t promises that nothing bad will ever happen, but they are promises that living a life devoted to God will have impact and purpose! They promise that with our new definition of extraordinary we will be content and filled to overflowing with the life God leads us to.
I have the amazing gift of being able to look at my life, as I know it is coming to an end, and being content with the life I lived. I know I was obedient to God. That I sought to serve Him and live my life devoted to Him. Of course, I made mistakes, but God, in His grace, even redeemed those. I devoted time to helping young women seek God. I gave of my gifts. And all of this adds up to an “extraordinary” life. There haven’t been a bunch of bells and whistles. But there has been obedience and God’s faithfulness. And that combination can hardly be beat.
One thing I can guarantee is that you with never regret one moment that you devote to God or his people. Never have I regretted learning more about my Savior. I have never regretted a moment in service to God or loving His people well. This makes an extraordinary life all that much more worth living. Because in the end, you will be able to look back and have confidence that you lived a life with purpose and meaning! After all, He has given us just enough grace for today….
Demure, your words continue to change my life for the better. You truly show Grace in your walk with Jesus. Thank you for sharing your heart with me and for making me look at me from His eyes. Hugs to you and bless you !
Demrie, you are truly amazing. Your faith is so strong even with all you have been through. I hope you can be pain free. Praying for you.
And I say ‘Amen’. To your extraordinary obedient life which has born witness to so many, mine included. Thank you Demrie. Love you! 🙂
Just wanted to say that you and your life have blessed so many people you have never even met. You are living the extraordinary life even now.
“Aunt Marcie”
Indeed, an extraordinary life lived seeking God and loving His people. No doubt that He has a well done my good and faithful on His lips for you always.
Demrie, I was encouraged by my mother, Mrs. L., to read your amazing blog and to pray for you. After reading several of your blog entries, particularly “Good Fight”, I was reminded of a devotional I had just read. It included the following parable (paraphrased):
A man once found a cocoon and kept it for the purpose of watching the beautiful creature emerge. Finally, the day came and the moth began to struggle to emerge from a small opening at one end. The struggle continued for hours. Believing something was wrong, the man took a pair of scissors and clipped the restraining threads. The moth emerged easily; its body was huge and swollen, its wings tiny and shriveled. The moth that should have been a great beauty was unable to soar and fly freely. For you see, the struggle necessary to emerge from the cocoon was all part of God’s design, created to force fluids from the moth’s body into its wings, enabling them ready for flight. The man’s “merciful” snip was really very cruel. Often, God let’s us struggle with a purpose in mind. There is no doubt that God could take away our struggles, giving us an entirely pleasant life. But as we struggle, becoming exhausted and almost beyond endurance, changes occur within us that could not otherwise happen; these struggles are the fluids that expand our wings, and in time we can fly. (From Temptation: Help for Struggling Christians, by Charles Durham).
It is so easy to ask, “Why me?”, and yet after reading your blog, I believe you are one of God’s beautiful moths, struggling to expand your wings and fly. Why, you might ask? I don’t pretend to know God’s purposes for your struggles, yet I believe you are doing an amazing job of witnessing for Him because of this painful journey you are on. Fly high, beautiful moth, soaring on the knowledge that your struggles are impacting the faith lives of countless others.
You will be in my prayers! Aimee
Dearest Demri,
Thank you again for your words of infinite wisdom. I have contemplated them since you posted your latest blog and forwarded it to some of my friends who are on a similar journey as well as those who are living for today. How I wish these words could have been read by some of my family.
You are giving an amazing testimony to your family and friends as well as to many people you do not know. You are encouraging people to look beyond today to what really matters: a life of faith and obedience to Jesus, our Savior.
One sentence particularly caught my eye: “I have the amazing gift of being able to look at my life, as I know it is coming to an end, and being content with the life I lived.” Our life on earth begins “coming to an end” from the moment of conception. What matters is what comes in between.
Your life is NOT coming to an end, Demri. Once you shed your sinful, broken body, you will step over the threshold into eternal life with Jesus. It will be a perfect existence. Isaiah 35:10 says: “Everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. God himself will 4 wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:4-5) The best of our spiritual experiences here on earth are only a small sample of heaven.
The preacher of Ecclesiastes said that the day of our leaving earth is better than the day of our birth. (Ecclesiastes 7:1) Paul also said “he would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8) He was expressing his confidence that earthly existence is not the end of life at all for the Christian. “When our earthly journey ends, the believer is ushered immediately into a fuller, higher realm of more abundant life- in the very presence of our Lord.” McArthur, The Glory of Heaven.
Demri, we are praying that your pain stops and for complete healing. Please tell your folks that they are in our prayers as well. I visited with your dad yesterday before he left to return to Laramie.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
Mrs. L
Demre I cannot begin to tell you what strength you have displayed. You are a remarkable young woman. I have been reading your blog but until Pastor Davids message yesterday I could not find exactly what made your journey so remarkable to me. I realized your raw honesty, truth, hope and faith were blended as I have not seen in anyone I have known. I know you are in the center of God’s plan even when it is not what you would have chosen. My prayer for you and your family is God’s perfect peace.
Love you Demrie.