Pursuing Your Purpose II: The Roadmap To A Fulfilled life

By Carl Mathis

The happiest people on earth live a life of purpose.

What can you give up to become who you were meant to be?

How can you embrace the change needed to live your fullest life?

Is there a secret path, a roadmap that will make your life easier?

Pursuing Your Purpose Volume II : The Roadmap to a Fulfilled Life is a truly life-changing book, one that will lead you to your soul’s desires and to a complete and balanced life.

With this revelatory guide from Carl Mathis you will be both empowered and equipped to fulfill your destiny, achieve lasting happiness, and to the make the contribution to the world that only you can make.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carl Mathis
• Release date: Apr 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370614868

Carl Mathis

His motivational speeches move mountains. He doesn’t make excuses for his struggles—he uses them as stepping stones to get to higher levels in his God-ordained destiny. Carl Mathis doesn’t know what it means to give up. Overcoming the obstacles of losing a spouse, having to raise three successful boys on his own and manage to write two books, he never managed to find the time to make excuses. Through his triumph over personal troubles, he strives to not only inspire and uplift, but to encourage people worldwide to find their purpose and begin walking in it. For booking info or to find out more about Carl Mathis, visit www.carlmathis.com or email [e-mail].

Book preview

Carl Mathis

PURSUING YOUR PURPOSE

VOLUME II

The Roadmap to a Fulfilled Life

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2017 by Carl Mathis

All Rights Reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or author.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are a number of wonderful people who gave me the motivation and encouragement and contributed in countless ways to my experiences in writing inspirational books.

My gratitude always goes to my mother, Melina Antoine Mathis, and the rest of my family. I thank you, Claudette and Haseland, who always encourage me to pursue my dreams. I will always appreciate the love and support you gave to me.

Thank you to my spiritual leader, Pastor Angela Giles and my church family at Holy Ghost Tabernacle of Deliverance Ministries in Miami, Florida.

Special thanks to my marketing team/editor, Marina Woods and company.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Know when it’s time to take a break

Chapter 2: Take charge of your purpose

Chapter 3: Have a mind to win

Chapter 4: Believe you can fly

Chapter 5: Know what you’re getting yourself into

INTRODUCTION

You have a purpose. And if you’re striving to fulfill that purpose in our complex and ever-changing world, you have likely hit some bumps along the way. You may have even taken a wrong turn at some point that left you feeling lost and confused and perhaps wondering whether you should turn around or end the pursuit altogether. Although pursuing your purpose can be adventurous and challenging, you can enjoy the entire journey—even embracing the bumps and detours as necessary to fulfilling your purpose. However, to experience continuous enjoyment, you must follow a special path. Some things must be done to make your journey as smooth as possible.

This journey requires traveling a route I would describe as Purpose Boulevard. When you travel on Purpose Boulevard, you must have visual evidence to show what you are hoping to accomplish. Of course, you understand that opposition will occur, so the will to keep fighting against a well-skilled and crafty opposition is going to require readjusting emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. If you keep the proper perspective about your challenges, you will learn how to dig deep and tap into the power of God within you to keep going and not give up the pursuit.

Most of us have probably heard someone say this: The mind is a battleground. This battleground could be the ground zero for everything that transpires in your life. To live a fulfilled life requires having a well made-up mind that enables you to shake off the opposition and keep going. Remember, everything you do is controlled by how you think.

The New King James Version of Proverbs 23:7 puts it this way: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Only after you have the mindset to pursue your purpose will you be able to understand what it takes to endure to the end. Staying focused and being determined to live a fulfilled life according to God’s purpose, plan, and will for you means not succumbing to a worldview. Meditate on and internalize this Scripture: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2, NIV).

After you discover your purpose and make up in your mind that absolutely nothing will stop you from accomplishing your ultimate goal, the rest of the puzzle pieces will fall into place. This volume of Pursuing Your Purpose shows you how to get there. Let’s now take a look at some of the things you need to do to make your journey worthwhile.

CHAPTER 1

BREAK TIME

KNOW WHEN TO TAKE A BREAK:

Pursuing purpose is like taking a trip on a rocky road toward the top of a mountain. An uphill climb, whether on a rocky road or a smooth one, is not easy. Who said pursuing purpose would be easy? Yes, it’s difficult; life is difficult. However, reaching the top is not the problem. I came to realize you could reach the top with no problem at all if you do so your way. But if you do that, could you enjoy what you’ve accomplished and hold on to it? Would you have enough strength to glory in the fruits of your labor? However, if you don’t take the easy route (doing it your way), you will discover that there will be times along your climb toward the top when you’ll have to rest; and you will discover the consequences if you press forward when you’re fatigued mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Life has a way of taking a toll on the body; everyday concerns and a habit of worrying can become thorns in your flesh. Thus, it is imperative that you recognize when it’s time to take a break. If you want to be effective in your work, you must know when to step back and take a moment to relax and recuperate. "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made" (Genesis 2:2, KJV). He who is the creator of all things, who needs no rest, rested after He had finished His work. So it would be fair to say we all need to rest from time to time.

The day of Sabbath was created for a purpose. Yes, the body needs to rest, but even more than for the body, Sabbath is a time of rest and renewal for the spirit. It was established for the spiritual aspect of living. Consider what author Ruth Haley Barton writes about the Sabbath rest in her book Sacred Rhythms:

The point of the Sabbath is to honor our need for a sane rhythm of work and rest. It is to honor the body’s need for rest, the spirit’s need for replenishment and the soul’s need to delight itself in God for God’s sake. It begins with a willingness to acknowledge the limits of our humanness and take steps to live more graciously in the order of things.i

In a silent moment of comfort and relaxation is when God clarifies information, instruction, and understanding that He imparts to us. He speaks in the quiet moment of our soul searching.

When we are pursuing purpose, we are not always aware of how the pursuit impacts our bodies. Some might call it living on high speed. It’s just like getting a quick fix from caffeine or an energy drink while neglecting the fact that there are negative side effects of that temporary solution for the boost we need to keep moving forward. We are so honed in on accomplishing our goal that we forget to relieve our bodies with positive habits that yield long-term, permanent results such as rest.

The mind is so focused on the result that it forgets the body is also part of the equation. I am not saying you shouldn’t focus on your set goal. What I am saying, however, is know when to recognize the signs of decline or deterioration. Many times we go to sleep but don’t sleep,