Deep down inside all of us we want to know what we are doing is significant.  How do we know if our lives are making an positive impact on others?  An eternal impact.  As we go from day to day – working, doing laundry, household chores, and a myriad of other daily activities-living our regular everyday lives how do we know even these daily routines are significant in the whole scheme of life?

I am excited to introduce you to Paul Rude’s new book Significant Work!  Paul has worked the full spectrum from Fortune 500 companies to mission fields of Alaska and is struck with the conviction that everyday of the Christian life is significant.  This led him to to launch Everyday Significance, an organization dedicated to helping people connect Christ-centered faith to everyday life.  Paul along with his wife, Misty, and his five kids live in beautiful rural Alaska.  When he is not speaking, consulting, or writing, you might find Paul rafting whitewater rivers or climbing mountains.

My husband and I met Paul and Misty many years ago at our church.  Paul was the head of  our church’s Awana Outreach program in South Carolina.  It has been really neat seeing God call his family to Alaska and the amazing journey he has led them on over the past few years.  His book was refreshing to read and I know it will be a blessing to many people.

5 lucky readers will win a FREE copy of the Significant Work book by Paul Rude!  ENTER NOW for a chance to win a copy of this great book (it only takes a couple seconds to leave a comment and be entered into the giveaway, please see all the giveaway details below)!

Why I love this book:

Paul’s book hit home in many areas.  As a child of a loving God, wife, Mom, homemaker, blogger and all the many other roles the days can seem a little crazy.  Some days it’s all I can do to find the floor when I am standing in front of a pile of dirty laundry and have trail of toys and books scattered throughout the house it is hard not to wonder……is it worth it?  How does all the day-to-day picking up, meal planning, cleaning, working, and everything else leave an eternal imprint?  Does it really matter?

So often we believe the lie…..the lie that those directly in ministry fields are the ones who have a direct connection with God, that they are the ones making the biggest impact on the lives of others for eternity.  As I look around me I see many people that I interact with regularly – my husband, kids, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.  While all the little never-ending activities can seem mundane with little significance when my heart is all-in I will slowly see pieces of eternity shaping not only in my heart and life but in the lives of those who I interact with regularly.

Many of us work in the everyday marketplace from truck drivers, waitresses, pilots, accountants, and more.  Our work is a gift from God.  We want to do work that matters to God, but the everyday demands of life constantly pull us in the opposite direction.*  Life is a balancing act.  Each of us wants to know that what we do every day counts.  We’re busy measuring externals, but all the while, God is looking directly at our hearts.

We burn more time and energy at work than anything else we do in life by far.  Our jobs, along with the daily grind of errands and household chores, will consume the majority of the waking hours in our adult lives.  The hours consumed are not our second rate hours-our highest energy, peak creativity, and sharpest intellect.  Once all the necessary activities are done for the day there isn’t much time or energy left for doing work for eternity.  Sure we may have an opportunity to volunteer at church, go on a mission trip, or some other great activity but the majority of our days are filled with work and other obligations.  Can the normal everyday tasks be my way of making an impact on eternity?

…..God usually chooses not to tell us the specific game plan for our lives.  He doesn’t swoop down in a fiery cloud and explicitly tell us what to do in life’s pivotal decisions.  How do we know we are doing God’s will for our lives?  Some people seem to know exactly what they are suppose to be doing while others struggle with knowing what they should be doing.  God does not play cruel little games, taunting us with his plan while holding it just out of reach….If he wants us to know something we will know it – absolutely and without any doubt. 

While many people work outside of the home some people have the opportunity to stay home with their children.  Many moms feel guilty, because they don’t have the time or energy to volunteer more hours at church-hours that impact souls and make a lasting difference……How does washing a load of laundry change eternity? …….The truth, however, is stunning.  God uses our regular, daily, earthly work to forge the very shape of eternity.  I am so thankful that the time and energy we invest in our family really does have an eternal significance.  God can work in our hearts whether we are folding clothes at home or overseas on a mission trip.  Isn’t it awesome how he can use even the simple stuff to help shape eternity!

No matter how obscure our lives may seem today, we will one day radiate the glory of God before redeemed humankind and all the mighty hosts of heaven.  No one will be forgotten, ignored, or belittled as insignificant to God.  The work you do today matters!

God is forging his masterpiece with our random-arrow lives.  He’s given each of us an unique life to live – a particular place to strike the white-hot ingot of eternity.  We each have our very own place in his story.  Like master to apprentice, he entrusts the hammer to our hands.  He says, “Strike it. Strike it right here.  This is your place.  This is where I want you to shape eternity.  Live the life I gave you to live.”  In stammering awe, we take up the hammer.  We live our regular, everyday lives.  The hammer falls.  Sparks fly, and the Master, our Father, is delighted. 

*Information that is in bold and italics are quotes from Paul Rude’s book.

After reading Significant Work I think it will help inspire and encourage you as well.  I really like how Paul is upfront and honest with his readers.  I know many of you will enjoy this book!

Giveaway Details

As a way to say thank you to my readers and to share Paul Rude’s book I am hosting a giveaway!  5 WINNERS will receive a free copy of  Significant Work book by Paul Rude!

Enter the Giveaway (up to 4 entries per person)!

1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.  Put a separate comment for each way you follow Blessings Multiplied (Email, Twitter, or Facebook) plus an extra entry for your bonus answer!   Each comment counts as an entry into the giveaway.

•  Sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email
• Follow on Twitter – @BlessMultiplied
• Like us on Facebook – BlessingsMultiplied
• BONUS – you can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing an activity that you do that makes a positive impact on the lives of others.

All comments must be made by January 31, 2013 at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.  Good Luck!

I encourage you to check out more information about  Significant Work by Paul Rude if you are interested in reading it.   This book book may give you the just right dose of motivation to get you on the road more eternal significance!  What are you waiting for…….get a copy and start reading today!

More information about Significant Work by Paul Rude can be found:

• Significant Work by Paul Rude
  
• Blog – Everyday Significance
• Facebook – Everyday Significance