"I live to make hell smaller and heaven bigger."
Those nine words contain the specific reason why I am still breathing, why I continue to live with purpose in my sixth decade of life and what makes the ministry such an exciting lifestyle for me.
Those nine words vigorously communicate what my first thought is in the morning, when my feet hit the cold floor and then what the last prayer on my lips is as I drift off to sleep at night.
"I live to make hell smaller and heaven bigger."
Why do you do what you do? Do you even know what you are called to do and are you able to communicate that calling?
As a woman called to ministry, it is imperative to have your own personal mission statement. You and I must be able to express in one sentence the passion that is found in our hearts and be able to share the specific calling of God on our lives.
"I live to make hell smaller and heaven bigger."
Can you sum up in one directed thought what exactly is the basis for your ministry?
Those in the world of PR call this sentence your "elevator speech." If you had a captive audience in the elevator for the time that it took to travel from one floor to the next, how would you explain your life calling?
"I live to make hell smaller and heaven bigger."
If you were to meet the CEO of a publishing company, the pastor of a megachurch or the founder of a well-known conference, how would you communicate to this important person what makes you unique and why they should be interested in what you do?
Most people who know me well can quote my nine-word sentence that describes the "why" of my existence without blinking an eye and several of my friends have adopted it as their own personal mission statement. I count it as an honor that the call of my life is so exciting and challenging that there are actually people in the world who want to do what I do!
Your mission statement should most of all be exciting to you! If you are unable to birth this statement out of passion and then deliver it with excitement, then you need to find a new calling in life. Those who listen to your elevator pitch may not remember your exact words, but if nothing else they should at least remember your enthusiasm for the life that you are leading.
This elevator speech should be concise, engaging and memorable. Who will ever forget my line about heaven and hell?
These nine power-packed words have served to encourage me during discouraging moments in life. I am able to remind myself of my calling and why what I do is valuable.
This simple sentence has enabled me to make difficult decisions when determining what I should do next. They bring me back to the purpose of my life and answer the question, "Which option that I am considering will help me fulfill my calling in life more effectively?"
Those nine compelling words are the story of my life contained in that infamous nutshell. I hope that these words are found on my tombstone ... "She lived to make hell smaller and heaven bigger!"
I'd love to hear from you ... what is your mission statement in life? Do you have an elevator speech? Please share it in the comments below.
Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. She has written five books, No More Ordinary, Holy Estrogen!, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart and Defiant Joy! Her most recent book, Refined: Finding Joy in the Midst of the Fire, will be released on Aug. 1. Her teaching DVD The Rooms of a Woman's Heart won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.
