By Dionna Sanchez of www.EmphasisOnMoms.com

I've been talking with my husband lately about making a difference with your life. We both have a great desire to not simply live... but to make an impact on others with our lives. And how each individual does that is ultimately up to the Lord. I think He can use each one of us in different ways and on different levels. But my heart is grieved when I see people simply living out their life. Nothing more,nothing less. Just living.

It occurs to me that every single person has the choice of whether or not to allow God to use them in a mighty way to make a difference with their life.

1. ALL parents can make a difference with their life. If you are a parent, you can make a difference. It may not seem dramatic or glamorous - but it is vitally important and if you invest into your children, it could be dramatic in the way they live (or don't live) their lives out for God. 
2. If you are a grandparent, you can make a difference with your life. You still have a crucial role in the upbringing of your grandchildren. So many of us have core values and ideals that were instilled in us because of our grandparents. If you find yourself now in this role, you can make a good or a bad difference in the life of your grandchildren. It depends on how much time you invest into their lives, and how much it means to you to make a difference in who they could be for the Lord.
3. If you live in a community, are part of a church, live in a neighborhood, etc -- you can make a difference with your life. We can just go about our business, or we can open our eyes and ears and look for needs and ways that God can use us in the lives of those we live amongst. You may not change your whole community, but you can change the life of one person in that community. And one life is a lot. 
4. God can choose to prompt your heart and speak to you about serving Him and using you life on a broader scale. That could be missions, ministry work, etc. And if God calls you to this type of service for Him - I believe you will know. He will clearly speak to your heart.

We ALL can make a difference with our lives. We just need to be willing to be used where we are.

I do know this ... if you don't place God first in your life, if you are not allowing Him to be Lord over the everyday "daily" stuff in your life...it will be hard to hear Him speaking to you and showing you in what direction you are to go. We must all be growing in the Lord first. The more we grow in the Lord, the more in-tune we are to listening and to hearing His voice and call when it comes to us.

Only God can fulfill you. Helping others is nice, but the "rush" you get will come and go. Only God can replace the emptiness that fills our hearts. Then, and only then will we feel "full", content, and cease to search for other things to fulfill our lives. Once we feel that "fullness" that only God can give us, then we can use that fullness to propel us to make a difference in the lives of others.

The "call" on each one of our lives is different. I don't believe that any two people are called to the same purpose in life. I do know that I don't want to simply live. I want to make a difference.

My husband and I are both sensing God talking to our hearts and beginning to prepare us to be used by Him more in the future. But we are not quite sure of the ultimate goal, direction, or timing yet. Please pray for us that our hearts will be "in-tune" to what God plans to tell us and where He wants to use us as we seek to let Him reveal more of His plan for our lives.

I pray that you, may also tilt your ear to God's heart -- and let Him speak to you personally, about how He wants you to use your life for Him to impact others. There are so many hurting and needy people out there. People need us. We can't just turn a blind eye and continue to live our lives safely and comfortably anymore.

We'll never be safer anywhere in the world, than we will be if are in God's Will. Start praying about where you can be used for Him. I know I am.

Dionna lives in Idaho with her husband Eliseo.  She is mom to two precious girls, a stepmom, and a mother-in-law.  Ever since Dionna was a little girl, she has always felt called to encourage and inspire others to action. Along with her love of writing, she is dedicated to her local church, has a growing interest in missions and photography, and loves a good shopping deal.  Click here to read her blog on PreciousMoms.com.