Day 30 - Shaped for Serving God
The Bible uses the term heart to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections you have. Your heart represents the source of all your motivations --what you love to do and what you care about most. AWESOME!!! there is a scripture that says God will give you the desires of your heart. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!
Your emotional heartbeat is the second key to understanding your shape for service. What does your heart beat for?
A simple lfe in the fear of God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Day 29
Day 29 - Accepting Your Assignment
Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation. Where are you serving? If you are a Christian and you are reading your Bible and going to church and studying (through this book) but are not serving then you will become stagnant.
Service is not optional.
Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation. Where are you serving? If you are a Christian and you are reading your Bible and going to church and studying (through this book) but are not serving then you will become stagnant.
Service is not optional.
Day 28
Day 28 - It Takes Time
Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering.
I am a testiment to that statement. I didn't want to go through that storm. I didn't want that season of suffering. I didn't want my testimony. If I could change my testimony I would, but God had different plans. I can now tell my testimony to people and help them through storms or lead them to Christ.
My testimony goes like this... I was raised in a Christian home with Christian parents. I never knew anything different but God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. I got baptized at 10 when I first accepted Jesus as my savior. I knew I had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and needed him to save me. From 10-21 I rebelled and grew farther and farther away from Christ. I had no relationship that was worthy of what He deserved. I dated people that and was very good friends with people that drove me away from my relationship further. I lied to my parents, grandparents, myself and tried running from God. Made awful choices in the middle of all of these years also. I was roommates with a Christian girl my Junior year of college. She got me to breakup with a boyfriend just by her attitude and way of life. It was nothing that she ever verbalized. It was the best year of my life. I grew closer and closer to God and learned a lot. I rebelled again and made some more horrible choices in the years to follow. Lied some more, got a bad reputation, kept sinning. It was hard to accept that I was on the right path and then screwed up again..still to this day. I started dating Nick (which was a wonderful choice) and he helped me through some growth and change. We helped each other through a lot. When Nick and I were engaged everything was fantastic and well concealed. All the garbage and trash didn't come out until the first few months of marriage. It wasn't that we didn't know the trash existed... don't get me wrong. We never kept anything from each other. It was just that I had pushed it down so deep that it didn't surface until our first year of marriage. It was the closest I had ever been to God because I had finally realized that God was all I had. I put my husband through a lot. He showed me a lot of grace. I will always love Nick for that. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE GOD FOR HIS GRACE. I just took a minute cry session. His grace gets me everytime. Now I can say that I have been in the pit with the Devil and I didn't let him win. He didn't get my relationship with Christ and he didn't get my relationship with Nick. Both of those things he wanted to destroy but God is stronger than the Devil and he lifted me up and protected me. If I can help one high school girl to not go down the same path as me... then my testimony is worth it. Yea I wish I could change a lot of things about my life, but if I use it for good then God gets the glory. :)
Write your testimony...
Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering.
I am a testiment to that statement. I didn't want to go through that storm. I didn't want that season of suffering. I didn't want my testimony. If I could change my testimony I would, but God had different plans. I can now tell my testimony to people and help them through storms or lead them to Christ.
My testimony goes like this... I was raised in a Christian home with Christian parents. I never knew anything different but God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. I got baptized at 10 when I first accepted Jesus as my savior. I knew I had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and needed him to save me. From 10-21 I rebelled and grew farther and farther away from Christ. I had no relationship that was worthy of what He deserved. I dated people that and was very good friends with people that drove me away from my relationship further. I lied to my parents, grandparents, myself and tried running from God. Made awful choices in the middle of all of these years also. I was roommates with a Christian girl my Junior year of college. She got me to breakup with a boyfriend just by her attitude and way of life. It was nothing that she ever verbalized. It was the best year of my life. I grew closer and closer to God and learned a lot. I rebelled again and made some more horrible choices in the years to follow. Lied some more, got a bad reputation, kept sinning. It was hard to accept that I was on the right path and then screwed up again..still to this day. I started dating Nick (which was a wonderful choice) and he helped me through some growth and change. We helped each other through a lot. When Nick and I were engaged everything was fantastic and well concealed. All the garbage and trash didn't come out until the first few months of marriage. It wasn't that we didn't know the trash existed... don't get me wrong. We never kept anything from each other. It was just that I had pushed it down so deep that it didn't surface until our first year of marriage. It was the closest I had ever been to God because I had finally realized that God was all I had. I put my husband through a lot. He showed me a lot of grace. I will always love Nick for that. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE GOD FOR HIS GRACE. I just took a minute cry session. His grace gets me everytime. Now I can say that I have been in the pit with the Devil and I didn't let him win. He didn't get my relationship with Christ and he didn't get my relationship with Nick. Both of those things he wanted to destroy but God is stronger than the Devil and he lifted me up and protected me. If I can help one high school girl to not go down the same path as me... then my testimony is worth it. Yea I wish I could change a lot of things about my life, but if I use it for good then God gets the glory. :)
Write your testimony...
Day 27
Day 27 - Defeating Temptation
The more you fight a feeling, the more it consumes and controls you. Don't fight the thought, just change the channel of your mind and get interested in another idea.
I wish I had read this book in my first year of marriage because I fought the worst fight of my life. I was OVERCOME with guilty thoughts and I always thought that you had to get the thoughts out of your mind and overcome them. The Devil was putting awful things inbetween me and Nick and I was making it worse by letting it affect me. I could have changed the channel of my mind - easier said then done I assume.
When Satan suggested temptation to Jesus by telling him he was hungry...Jesus didn't argue with Satan, He didn't say I'm not hungry....when tempted to use his power to meet a personal need He simply quoted scripture from memory.
This is why memorizing Scripture is absolutely essential to defeating temptation.
The more you fight a feeling, the more it consumes and controls you. Don't fight the thought, just change the channel of your mind and get interested in another idea.
I wish I had read this book in my first year of marriage because I fought the worst fight of my life. I was OVERCOME with guilty thoughts and I always thought that you had to get the thoughts out of your mind and overcome them. The Devil was putting awful things inbetween me and Nick and I was making it worse by letting it affect me. I could have changed the channel of my mind - easier said then done I assume.
When Satan suggested temptation to Jesus by telling him he was hungry...Jesus didn't argue with Satan, He didn't say I'm not hungry....when tempted to use his power to meet a personal need He simply quoted scripture from memory.
This is why memorizing Scripture is absolutely essential to defeating temptation.
Day 26
Day 26 - Growing through Temptation
Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.
Let me just say that temptation isn't always PORN... it could be chocolate :)
Satan is incapable of telling the truth (I knew the was the King of Liars, but I never thought of it like this)
You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. You can't keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts, but you can choose not to dwell or act on them. Just because you have bad temptation - that is not the sin! The sin is choosing to commit in your mind to do the wrong thing. The Devil would like us to believe the thought is the sin. Theres a fine line though so be careful. Example: you are tempted with cheating on your spouse... you think about cheating on your spouse... you become friends with the other sex at work... you hang out more and more... you think about cheating on your spouse with this person... you are alone with this person... you cheat on your spouse. Being tempted to cheat on your spouse ISN'T the sin, but don't let the thought linger, because cheating on your spouse IS a sin. (Britt, I never think about cheating on Nick lol)
Satan fears your prayers. God says, Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.
You should identify your typical pattern of temptation and then prepare to avoid those situations as much as possible. No I don't think chocolate is a sin, however, for the point of example. If you eat healthy all day and then have weakness after 8pm STAY AWAY FROM THE FRIDGE...
If you have to cry out for Dog's help two hundred times a day to defeat a particular temptation, he will still be eager to give mercy and grace, so come boldly. I've been there. He's loyal.
Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.
Let me just say that temptation isn't always PORN... it could be chocolate :)
Satan is incapable of telling the truth (I knew the was the King of Liars, but I never thought of it like this)
You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. You can't keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts, but you can choose not to dwell or act on them. Just because you have bad temptation - that is not the sin! The sin is choosing to commit in your mind to do the wrong thing. The Devil would like us to believe the thought is the sin. Theres a fine line though so be careful. Example: you are tempted with cheating on your spouse... you think about cheating on your spouse... you become friends with the other sex at work... you hang out more and more... you think about cheating on your spouse with this person... you are alone with this person... you cheat on your spouse. Being tempted to cheat on your spouse ISN'T the sin, but don't let the thought linger, because cheating on your spouse IS a sin. (Britt, I never think about cheating on Nick lol)
Satan fears your prayers. God says, Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.
You should identify your typical pattern of temptation and then prepare to avoid those situations as much as possible. No I don't think chocolate is a sin, however, for the point of example. If you eat healthy all day and then have weakness after 8pm STAY AWAY FROM THE FRIDGE...
If you have to cry out for Dog's help two hundred times a day to defeat a particular temptation, he will still be eager to give mercy and grace, so come boldly. I've been there. He's loyal.
Day 25
Day 25 - Transformed by Trouble HARD HARD HARD to do
In fact, he depends more on circumstances to make us like Jesus than he depends on our reading tbe Bible - pretty smart God.
It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most authentic, heartfelt, honest to God prayers.
You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got.
Romans 8:28-29 says "We know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his piurpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son."
All things work for bad for those living in opposition to God and insist on having their own way.
*****Whenver we try to avoid or escape the difficulties in life, we short circuit the process, delay our growth, and actually end up with a worse kind of pain - the worthless type that accompanies denial and avoidance.
UGH I really don't like that last sentence because that is EXACTLY what I do. I try to cover up my feeling, my hurt, my avoidance... I try to escape what I know is going on and act like God will forget about it too. I try to short circit the process and then I DON'T GROW! I do end up with the kind of pain. I hate that denial. It's so hard to face change and growth straight in the face. UGH
In fact, he depends more on circumstances to make us like Jesus than he depends on our reading tbe Bible - pretty smart God.
It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most authentic, heartfelt, honest to God prayers.
You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got.
Romans 8:28-29 says "We know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his piurpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son."
All things work for bad for those living in opposition to God and insist on having their own way.
*****Whenver we try to avoid or escape the difficulties in life, we short circuit the process, delay our growth, and actually end up with a worse kind of pain - the worthless type that accompanies denial and avoidance.
UGH I really don't like that last sentence because that is EXACTLY what I do. I try to cover up my feeling, my hurt, my avoidance... I try to escape what I know is going on and act like God will forget about it too. I try to short circit the process and then I DON'T GROW! I do end up with the kind of pain. I hate that denial. It's so hard to face change and growth straight in the face. UGH
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Day 24
Day 24 - Transformed by Truth
on page 186 top of the page there is a whole LIST of things that the Bible does for us. Very awesome list. You should consider is as essential to your life as food. I definately need to work on that!! hahaahah I KNOW I think about food more than reading my Bible. lol
Does everyone have a Bible? Let me know and I'll send you an extra if you don't.
Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
We had a Catholic woman talk last night at small group about growing up in the Catholic church and then going to The Village. She explained how they read the scripture from the Bible every week at mass and in 3 years you hear the whole thing. She said there was NO scripture reading at home. It was a crazy thought to think that if you had an issue.. that you could look up an answer in the Bible. What are your thoughts about this Erin?
Do you accept it's authority? Do you assimilate it's truth? Do you apply it's principles?
on page 186 top of the page there is a whole LIST of things that the Bible does for us. Very awesome list. You should consider is as essential to your life as food. I definately need to work on that!! hahaahah I KNOW I think about food more than reading my Bible. lol
Does everyone have a Bible? Let me know and I'll send you an extra if you don't.
Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
We had a Catholic woman talk last night at small group about growing up in the Catholic church and then going to The Village. She explained how they read the scripture from the Bible every week at mass and in 3 years you hear the whole thing. She said there was NO scripture reading at home. It was a crazy thought to think that if you had an issue.. that you could look up an answer in the Bible. What are your thoughts about this Erin?
Do you accept it's authority? Do you assimilate it's truth? Do you apply it's principles?
Day 23
Day 23 - How We Grow
Decide to become a disciple.
Tell me what you are committed to and I'll tell you what you'll be in 20 years.
You can't work for your salvation. In the small group video the pastor says you could say "Salvation is a moment and a lifetime." It happens the moment you accept Christ as your savior and then for the rest of your life as you work to grow up in Christ.
Every behavior is motivated by a belieft, and every action is prompted by an attitude. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act.
What is one area in my life where I need to stop thinking my way and start thinking God's way?
Decide to become a disciple.
Tell me what you are committed to and I'll tell you what you'll be in 20 years.
You can't work for your salvation. In the small group video the pastor says you could say "Salvation is a moment and a lifetime." It happens the moment you accept Christ as your savior and then for the rest of your life as you work to grow up in Christ.
Every behavior is motivated by a belieft, and every action is prompted by an attitude. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act.
What is one area in my life where I need to stop thinking my way and start thinking God's way?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
That's it for tonight...
I am still 2 days behind but I feel if I do all the days today we won't get good conversation going. Sorry! Tomorrow I will do three more days. Please comment on these posts! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! I hope that you are all reading and enjoying. And if you aren't reading, please don't get overwhelmed with guilt. Satan wants you to feel guilty and don't let him win. Just enjoy the blog, or post on the blog, or read a chapter here or there. Or read a chapter everyday. It's been fun so far. I hope you agree :)
Day 22
Day 22- Created to Become Like Christ
We are spiritual beings.
We are intellectual.
We can give and receive real love.
We can discern right from wrong.
Take on an entirely new way of life- a God fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. There is a scripture that says.. take joy my dear brothers for the testing of your faith developes perservence. or something like that. It is REALLY hard to take joy when you are going through something hard. Take joy when you are miserable because when you get through it, you'll be closer to God. hard. but awesome.
FIRST we must choose to let go of old ways of acting.
SECOND we must change the way we think.
THIRD we must put on the character of Christ by developing new, godly habits.
We are spiritual beings.
We are intellectual.
We can give and receive real love.
We can discern right from wrong.
Take on an entirely new way of life- a God fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. There is a scripture that says.. take joy my dear brothers for the testing of your faith developes perservence. or something like that. It is REALLY hard to take joy when you are going through something hard. Take joy when you are miserable because when you get through it, you'll be closer to God. hard. but awesome.
FIRST we must choose to let go of old ways of acting.
SECOND we must change the way we think.
THIRD we must put on the character of Christ by developing new, godly habits.
Day 21
Day 21 - Protecting Your Church
You are commissioned by Jesus Christ to do everything possible to preserve the unity, protect the fellowship, and promote harmony in your church family and among all believers.
We must stay focused on what matters most- learning to love each other as Christ has first loved us.
Every church could put out a sign "No perfect people need apply. This is a place only for those who admit they are sinners, need grace, and want to grow.
*** If you know me at all - you know I am not perfect. We could have comment after comment of memories of me being dumb. really dumb. Let's not comment those lol. HOWEVER the grace of God covers ALL my sins and I am a sinner, I need grace, and I want to grow. I believe that is part of what makes you love me. You know that I am real and that I understand and that I was lost but now found :)
People who go to church and act perfect ARE NOT perfect. They are the same as you. A sinner. Seperated from God and they need grace. You need grace. Accept it. When people find a church where members genuinely love and care for each other IT'S AWESOME!
You are commissioned by Jesus Christ to do everything possible to preserve the unity, protect the fellowship, and promote harmony in your church family and among all believers.
We must stay focused on what matters most- learning to love each other as Christ has first loved us.
Every church could put out a sign "No perfect people need apply. This is a place only for those who admit they are sinners, need grace, and want to grow.
*** If you know me at all - you know I am not perfect. We could have comment after comment of memories of me being dumb. really dumb. Let's not comment those lol. HOWEVER the grace of God covers ALL my sins and I am a sinner, I need grace, and I want to grow. I believe that is part of what makes you love me. You know that I am real and that I understand and that I was lost but now found :)
People who go to church and act perfect ARE NOT perfect. They are the same as you. A sinner. Seperated from God and they need grace. You need grace. Accept it. When people find a church where members genuinely love and care for each other IT'S AWESOME!
Day 20
Day 20 - Restoring Broken Fellowship
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, ...Agree with each other, love each other, be deep spirited friends. 2 Cor. 5:18
Be a peacemaker! Comment if you are a peacemaker like me! I love peace! I hate turmoil. I'll always call and apologize first, I'll always give in first (most of the time), peace or fighting?? PEACE!
Blessed are the peaceable, who are never disturbed by anything!
Confess your part of the conflict. Attack the problem, not the person. Cooperate as much as possible. Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution.
Who or what did this chapter make you think of?
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, ...Agree with each other, love each other, be deep spirited friends. 2 Cor. 5:18
Be a peacemaker! Comment if you are a peacemaker like me! I love peace! I hate turmoil. I'll always call and apologize first, I'll always give in first (most of the time), peace or fighting?? PEACE!
Blessed are the peaceable, who are never disturbed by anything!
Confess your part of the conflict. Attack the problem, not the person. Cooperate as much as possible. Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution.
Who or what did this chapter make you think of?
Day 19
Day 19 - Cultivating Community
Speak the truth in love. An honeszt answer is a sign of true friendship. Until you care enough to confront and resolve the underlying barriers, you will never grow close to each other.
Comment if you have any underlying barriers with me. Seriously. Lets be real.
By admitting your weaknesses, by being patient with others' weaknesses, by being open to correction, and by pointing the spotlight on others.
Just because you don't fear something doesn't make it an invalid feeling for them. I still have a hard time with this. They feel fear. I don't feel fear. I think they are being dumb for feeling the fear. Just because you don't feel something doesn't make it invalid for others to feel that way.
Speak the truth in love. An honeszt answer is a sign of true friendship. Until you care enough to confront and resolve the underlying barriers, you will never grow close to each other.
Comment if you have any underlying barriers with me. Seriously. Lets be real.
By admitting your weaknesses, by being patient with others' weaknesses, by being open to correction, and by pointing the spotlight on others.
Just because you don't fear something doesn't make it an invalid feeling for them. I still have a hard time with this. They feel fear. I don't feel fear. I think they are being dumb for feeling the fear. Just because you don't feel something doesn't make it invalid for others to feel that way.
Day 18
Day 18 - Experiencing Life Together
unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting.
I think that this is really hard to do. If you are in a small group at a local church its probably the only place where they ask you hard questions like the things listed above. Most small groups have a hard time opening up and talking about this kind of stuff in front of others. Talking about your troubles and having sympathetic comforting... or honest sharing (always hard to do at church)... unselfish loving (is that possible?)
Experiencing life together is hard. I think that we have a wonderfully, unique opportunity to experience life together through this blog. I believe it's always easier to share honestly and comfort sympathetically over the computer rather than face to face.
unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting.
I think that this is really hard to do. If you are in a small group at a local church its probably the only place where they ask you hard questions like the things listed above. Most small groups have a hard time opening up and talking about this kind of stuff in front of others. Talking about your troubles and having sympathetic comforting... or honest sharing (always hard to do at church)... unselfish loving (is that possible?)
Experiencing life together is hard. I think that we have a wonderfully, unique opportunity to experience life together through this blog. I believe it's always easier to share honestly and comfort sympathetically over the computer rather than face to face.
Day 17
Day 17 - A Place to Belong
being a member of the church meant being a vital organ of a living body, an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ. - we need to practice this type of "membership" instead of just attending church.
isolation breeds deceitfulness (not to mention loneliness and depression) As members of Christ's body, we are his hands, his feet, his eyes, and his heart. Do you know anyone who act as Christ's hands, feet, eyes, or heart? Comment and tell the story.
God created the church to meet your five deepest needs: purpose to live for, people to live with, principles to live by, a profession to live out, and power to live on!!! Read that again!
Joining the membership of a local church is the natural next step once you've become a child of God.
being a member of the church meant being a vital organ of a living body, an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ. - we need to practice this type of "membership" instead of just attending church.
isolation breeds deceitfulness (not to mention loneliness and depression) As members of Christ's body, we are his hands, his feet, his eyes, and his heart. Do you know anyone who act as Christ's hands, feet, eyes, or heart? Comment and tell the story.
God created the church to meet your five deepest needs: purpose to live for, people to live with, principles to live by, a profession to live out, and power to live on!!! Read that again!
Joining the membership of a local church is the natural next step once you've become a child of God.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Day 16
Day 16 - What Matters Most
Life is all about love. How appropriate on Valentines Day <3
The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best times to love is now.
I could seriously write about 124 awesome sentences from this chapter. I love LOVE! I love that God IS love. Not only did he create love. He IS love. He first loved us. We should love him and love one another.
God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people - because that's what life is all about. I don't want to waste this day.
I am happy to say that everyone reading this blog knows I love them. I have said it and I have showed it.
Purpose 1: LOVE God
Purpose 2: LOVE Others
I love you!!
Life is all about love. How appropriate on Valentines Day <3
The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best times to love is now.
I could seriously write about 124 awesome sentences from this chapter. I love LOVE! I love that God IS love. Not only did he create love. He IS love. He first loved us. We should love him and love one another.
God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people - because that's what life is all about. I don't want to waste this day.
I am happy to say that everyone reading this blog knows I love them. I have said it and I have showed it.
Purpose 1: LOVE God
Purpose 2: LOVE Others
I love you!!
Day 15
Day 15 - Formed for God's Family
Have you been baptized as an adult? Baptism doesn't make you a member of God's family; only faith in Christ does that. Baptism shows you are part of God's family. Baptism declares your faith, shares Christ's burial (dunked) and resurrection (and back up again), symbolizes your death to your old life, and announces your new life in Christ. It also is a celebration of your inclusion in God's family.
Baptism is an act of initiation, a welcoming party to being a Christ follower. It is different that an infant baptism and it isn't something that you put off til you are spiritually mature. It is something you do AS SOON as you believe. We are having a celebration Sunday at church after we finish reading this book. I beg you to pray about being baptized. God wants you to trust him, follow him, and love him. This is the first step.
I would LOVE to be in the dunk tank with you to baptize you! :)
Have you been baptized as an adult? Baptism doesn't make you a member of God's family; only faith in Christ does that. Baptism shows you are part of God's family. Baptism declares your faith, shares Christ's burial (dunked) and resurrection (and back up again), symbolizes your death to your old life, and announces your new life in Christ. It also is a celebration of your inclusion in God's family.
Baptism is an act of initiation, a welcoming party to being a Christ follower. It is different that an infant baptism and it isn't something that you put off til you are spiritually mature. It is something you do AS SOON as you believe. We are having a celebration Sunday at church after we finish reading this book. I beg you to pray about being baptized. God wants you to trust him, follow him, and love him. This is the first step.
I would LOVE to be in the dunk tank with you to baptize you! :)
Day 14
Day 14 When God Seems Distant
God is real, no matter how you feel.
If you have never read the book of Job, read it now. It's in the old testament and Job shows great trust in the Lord through trials.
My favorite line in this day was "How do you keep your eyes on Jesus when they are full of tears?" Do these four things: Tell God exactly how you feel. Focus on who God is. Trust God to keep his promises. and Remember what God has already done for you.
on page 112 the author goes into detail about what God has done for you. I wanted to explain more about sacrifices. I got this off the internet...
God required animal sacrifices to provide temporary forgiveness of sins and to foreshadow the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Animal sacrifice is an important theme found throughout Scripture because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”. First, the animal had to be spotless. Second, the person offering the sacrifice had to identify with the animal. Third, the person offering the animal had to inflict death upon it. When done in faith, this sacrifice provided forgiveness of sins.
Animal sacrifices have ended because Jesus Christ was the ultimate and perfect sacrifice! John the Baptist recognized this when he saw Jesus coming to be baptized and said, “Look, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Since the animals did no wrong, they died in place of the one performing the sacrifice. Jesus Christ also did no wrong but willingly gave Himself to die for the sins of mankind. Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and died IN OUR PLACE. Through faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, we can receive forgiveness.
Animal sacrifices were commanded by God so that the individual could experience forgiveness of sin. The animal served as a substitute—that is, the animal died in place of the sinner, but only temporarily, which is why the sacrifices needed to be offered over and over. Animal sacrifices have stopped with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrificial substitute once for all time. Animal sacrifices foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.
God is real, no matter how you feel.
If you have never read the book of Job, read it now. It's in the old testament and Job shows great trust in the Lord through trials.
My favorite line in this day was "How do you keep your eyes on Jesus when they are full of tears?" Do these four things: Tell God exactly how you feel. Focus on who God is. Trust God to keep his promises. and Remember what God has already done for you.
on page 112 the author goes into detail about what God has done for you. I wanted to explain more about sacrifices. I got this off the internet...
God required animal sacrifices to provide temporary forgiveness of sins and to foreshadow the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Animal sacrifice is an important theme found throughout Scripture because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”. First, the animal had to be spotless. Second, the person offering the sacrifice had to identify with the animal. Third, the person offering the animal had to inflict death upon it. When done in faith, this sacrifice provided forgiveness of sins.
Animal sacrifices have ended because Jesus Christ was the ultimate and perfect sacrifice! John the Baptist recognized this when he saw Jesus coming to be baptized and said, “Look, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Since the animals did no wrong, they died in place of the one performing the sacrifice. Jesus Christ also did no wrong but willingly gave Himself to die for the sins of mankind. Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and died IN OUR PLACE. Through faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, we can receive forgiveness.
Animal sacrifices were commanded by God so that the individual could experience forgiveness of sin. The animal served as a substitute—that is, the animal died in place of the sinner, but only temporarily, which is why the sacrifices needed to be offered over and over. Animal sacrifices have stopped with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrificial substitute once for all time. Animal sacrifices foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Day 13
Day 13 - Worship That Pleases God
God is pleased when our worship is accurate. John 4:23. Don't dream up a god and pretend that's what the real God is like. Read about Him in the Bible and then worship the REAL God.
God is pleased when our worship is authentic. Which "sacred pathway" were you? Naturalist? Sensate? Traditionalist? Ascetics? Activist? Caregiver? Enthusiast? Contemplative? or Intellectual? I'm a mix of two. Can you guess which one you think best represents me? How about Reid? hahahah That was easy.
God is pleased when our worship is thoughtful. Love God with all your mind. Think about what you are saying in your prayer. Don't just memorize one prayer until it loses it's meaning. Don't sing the song while you're thinking about your errands you have to do later.
God is pleased when our worship is practical. "I'll be with you in spirit" is meaningless. Give your body to practical acts of worship. That means you have to take your body to places to worship. You have to GO help people when you don't feel like it. You have to GO to church when its your only day off. You have to GO to work when you're tired.
---Let me just add that if you have never worshipped before (or prayed before) it's not going to feel accurate, authentic, thoughtful or practical. JUST KEEP DOING IT. God knows that you are confused but you are trying. Say what you think you should say until you believe it. God will honor that.
God is pleased when our worship is accurate. John 4:23. Don't dream up a god and pretend that's what the real God is like. Read about Him in the Bible and then worship the REAL God.
God is pleased when our worship is authentic. Which "sacred pathway" were you? Naturalist? Sensate? Traditionalist? Ascetics? Activist? Caregiver? Enthusiast? Contemplative? or Intellectual? I'm a mix of two. Can you guess which one you think best represents me? How about Reid? hahahah That was easy.
God is pleased when our worship is thoughtful. Love God with all your mind. Think about what you are saying in your prayer. Don't just memorize one prayer until it loses it's meaning. Don't sing the song while you're thinking about your errands you have to do later.
God is pleased when our worship is practical. "I'll be with you in spirit" is meaningless. Give your body to practical acts of worship. That means you have to take your body to places to worship. You have to GO help people when you don't feel like it. You have to GO to church when its your only day off. You have to GO to work when you're tired.
---Let me just add that if you have never worshipped before (or prayed before) it's not going to feel accurate, authentic, thoughtful or practical. JUST KEEP DOING IT. God knows that you are confused but you are trying. Say what you think you should say until you believe it. God will honor that.
Day 12
Day 12 - Developing Your Friendship with God
The truth is - you are as close to God as you choose to be. Do you really want it? More than anything? What is it worth to you? Is it worth giving up other things?Is it worth the effort of developing the habits and skills required?
You can't say yes to these questions and then go on living the same life.
Pain is the fuel of passion. Your problems are not punishment; they are a wake-up call from a loving God.
The truth is - you are as close to God as you choose to be. Do you really want it? More than anything? What is it worth to you? Is it worth giving up other things?Is it worth the effort of developing the habits and skills required?
You can't say yes to these questions and then go on living the same life.
Pain is the fuel of passion. Your problems are not punishment; they are a wake-up call from a loving God.
Day 11
Day 11 - Becoming Best Friends with God
He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought. A constant conversation.
The key to a friendship wth God is not changing what you do but changing your attitude. I think waking up and praying "God let me glorify you today in all I do" and then proceeding to live your life with God as your priority. You must train your mind to remember God though. Make some post it notes, or put a bible on your nightstand, toliet...
I LOVED the page about meditation. If you can worry constantly about something throughout the day - you can meditate on the word! If something is bothersome - you can't stop thinking about it. If you change your thought to a scripture it will eventually train your mind to think scripture instead of waste. Awesome!
What can you do to remind yourself to think about God and talk to him more often throughout the day?
He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought. A constant conversation.
The key to a friendship wth God is not changing what you do but changing your attitude. I think waking up and praying "God let me glorify you today in all I do" and then proceeding to live your life with God as your priority. You must train your mind to remember God though. Make some post it notes, or put a bible on your nightstand, toliet...
I LOVED the page about meditation. If you can worry constantly about something throughout the day - you can meditate on the word! If something is bothersome - you can't stop thinking about it. If you change your thought to a scripture it will eventually train your mind to think scripture instead of waste. Awesome!
What can you do to remind yourself to think about God and talk to him more often throughout the day?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
MAKE COMMENTS PLEASE
Hey friends :)
I am reading this book with my whole church. At church they said to invite your friends to read the book with you, get in a small group and talk about what you learn, question, love... etc. So I asked my friends. None of you come to my church so I started this blog.
I am in 3 small groups. One Thursday night, one Friday night, and one ON THIS BLOG! We need to be talking about this book together.
I would LOVE for you to comment on my days. Write one sentence. Write what you learn. What you question. What you love.
LET'S GO erin, elene, oc, reid, ashley, dani, and brittany. XO
I am reading this book with my whole church. At church they said to invite your friends to read the book with you, get in a small group and talk about what you learn, question, love... etc. So I asked my friends. None of you come to my church so I started this blog.
I am in 3 small groups. One Thursday night, one Friday night, and one ON THIS BLOG! We need to be talking about this book together.
I would LOVE for you to comment on my days. Write one sentence. Write what you learn. What you question. What you love.
LET'S GO erin, elene, oc, reid, ashley, dani, and brittany. XO
Day 10
Day 10 - The Heart of Worship
There are three barriers that block our total surrender to God: fear, pride, and confusion. We don't realize how much God loves us, we want to control our own lives, and we misunderstand the meaning of surrender.
WOW lets talk about those three for a second. I fear what God would have me do if I listened to him wholdheartedly. I have pride in my family, money, cars, clothes... Could I give up everything to be a Christ follower. I don't want to. And yes I don't always surrender my daily activities. Doing what God wants always - is hard. Which of the three are you?
Everyone eventually surrenders to something or someone. If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lust, or ego. If you don't worship God, you will create other things to give your life to. Idols aren't always gold statues. They are careers, hobbies, people. Idols aren't always easy to recognize. You can make an idol out of great things - like your kids, your hobbies, your career, your wife, husband, mom, deceased loved one. God is the ONLY one deserving of our worship.
Surrendering. It means doing what God wants you to do. Everyday. Practice surrendering tomorrow.
There are three barriers that block our total surrender to God: fear, pride, and confusion. We don't realize how much God loves us, we want to control our own lives, and we misunderstand the meaning of surrender.
WOW lets talk about those three for a second. I fear what God would have me do if I listened to him wholdheartedly. I have pride in my family, money, cars, clothes... Could I give up everything to be a Christ follower. I don't want to. And yes I don't always surrender my daily activities. Doing what God wants always - is hard. Which of the three are you?
Everyone eventually surrenders to something or someone. If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lust, or ego. If you don't worship God, you will create other things to give your life to. Idols aren't always gold statues. They are careers, hobbies, people. Idols aren't always easy to recognize. You can make an idol out of great things - like your kids, your hobbies, your career, your wife, husband, mom, deceased loved one. God is the ONLY one deserving of our worship.
Surrendering. It means doing what God wants you to do. Everyday. Practice surrendering tomorrow.
Day 9
Day 9 - What Makes God Smile?
You can read about Noah in Genesis. The first book of the bible.
What God wants from you is a relationship. God wants you wholeheartedly. That means doing whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation. Wholeheartedly does not mean "I'll attend church but I won't tithe. I'll ready my Bible but won't forgive the person who hurt me."
So in Day 8 when I was talking about your God given abilities... fast forward two pages to pg 74. This is probably where I got this diea. I DO remember something from this book!! "He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do!" I was a waitress at RPlace when I read this book 6 years ago. I remember trying to keep a conversation with God during my shift. 8 hours was a long time to pray so instead I used my abilities to worship him. I was a pretty good waitress - toot toot. I remember thinking that God would enjoy me by being a good waitress and filling every coffee cup and coke glass as fast as possible. lol. He enjoyed it :)
God doesn't wait for you to reach maturity before he starts liking you. You don't have to "get it" before he starts enjoying you. You don't have to read the bible or go to church before he loves you. He wants you to do all these things but he doesn't wait for you to reach maturity before he starts liking you.
You can read about Noah in Genesis. The first book of the bible.
What God wants from you is a relationship. God wants you wholeheartedly. That means doing whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation. Wholeheartedly does not mean "I'll attend church but I won't tithe. I'll ready my Bible but won't forgive the person who hurt me."
So in Day 8 when I was talking about your God given abilities... fast forward two pages to pg 74. This is probably where I got this diea. I DO remember something from this book!! "He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do!" I was a waitress at RPlace when I read this book 6 years ago. I remember trying to keep a conversation with God during my shift. 8 hours was a long time to pray so instead I used my abilities to worship him. I was a pretty good waitress - toot toot. I remember thinking that God would enjoy me by being a good waitress and filling every coffee cup and coke glass as fast as possible. lol. He enjoyed it :)
God doesn't wait for you to reach maturity before he starts liking you. You don't have to "get it" before he starts enjoying you. You don't have to read the bible or go to church before he loves you. He wants you to do all these things but he doesn't wait for you to reach maturity before he starts liking you.
Day 8
Day 8 - Planned for God's Pleasure
God did not neet to create you. It was his pleasure.
Bringing pleasure to God is called worship. Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. If you are good at it and you do it - it is worship. God created you the way he wanted you. If you are good at softball and you play softball, you are worshiping your creator. If you are good at singing and you sing, you are worshiping your creator. If we fail to worship God, we always find a substitute, even if it ends up being ourselves. HE desires worshipers. Anything that is offered to God in spirit and truth is an act of worship. (doing something that is immoral is never worship)
Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life - and place it before God as an offering.
I was planned for God's pleasure. "The LORD takes pleasure in his people."
What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus? If you read this question I want you to comment your answer.
God did not neet to create you. It was his pleasure.
Bringing pleasure to God is called worship. Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. If you are good at it and you do it - it is worship. God created you the way he wanted you. If you are good at softball and you play softball, you are worshiping your creator. If you are good at singing and you sing, you are worshiping your creator. If we fail to worship God, we always find a substitute, even if it ends up being ourselves. HE desires worshipers. Anything that is offered to God in spirit and truth is an act of worship. (doing something that is immoral is never worship)
Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life - and place it before God as an offering.
I was planned for God's pleasure. "The LORD takes pleasure in his people."
What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus? If you read this question I want you to comment your answer.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Day 7
Day 7 - The reason for everything
It's not about you. It's all for him.
Seems strange to talk about God creating everything for his glory. And that we should give him all the glory and that he deserves it and we were made just to give him glory. Seems weird because nothing on earth deserves that kind of glory. Nothing we can see or touch deserves that kind of glory. GOD Does!
Who are you going to live for-- yourself or God? If you answer God, but don't know what to do, email me or call me.
If you said the prayer on page 58 for the first time or 50th time tell me about it. Email me or post on this comment. Let us know that you want Jesus in your life. That you believe and you receive! He loves you already. Love him back.
It's not about you. It's all for him.
Seems strange to talk about God creating everything for his glory. And that we should give him all the glory and that he deserves it and we were made just to give him glory. Seems weird because nothing on earth deserves that kind of glory. Nothing we can see or touch deserves that kind of glory. GOD Does!
Who are you going to live for-- yourself or God? If you answer God, but don't know what to do, email me or call me.
If you said the prayer on page 58 for the first time or 50th time tell me about it. Email me or post on this comment. Let us know that you want Jesus in your life. That you believe and you receive! He loves you already. Love him back.
Day 6
Day 6 - Life is a Temporary Assignment
Ask God to help you see life on earth as He sees it. Because earth is not our ultimate home explains why, as followers of Jesus, we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in this world. This is not the end of the story.
Never focus on temporary crowns. 1Peter 2:11
How should the fact that life on earth is just a temp assign change the way I am living right now? It would change A LOT of my life. My materialism, my relationships with coworkers, my stress level, worrying, focus...
Ask God to help you see life on earth as He sees it. Because earth is not our ultimate home explains why, as followers of Jesus, we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in this world. This is not the end of the story.
Never focus on temporary crowns. 1Peter 2:11
How should the fact that life on earth is just a temp assign change the way I am living right now? It would change A LOT of my life. My materialism, my relationships with coworkers, my stress level, worrying, focus...
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Day 5
Day 5 - Seeing Life from God's View
You will be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies.
Just looking at that list I know I have failed miserably at some tests... and others I feel like I trust God with. I wish I was more aware of the situation and able to lean more on God instead of realizing later that was test.
Life is a test and a trust.
Luke 16:10
You will be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies.
Just looking at that list I know I have failed miserably at some tests... and others I feel like I trust God with. I wish I was more aware of the situation and able to lean more on God instead of realizing later that was test.
Life is a test and a trust.
Luke 16:10
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Day 4
Day 4 - Made to Last Forever
There is more to life than just here and now.
God's plan endures forever; his purposes last eternally. Psm 33:11
I love that our minds can't contain the idea of heaven. I imagine heaven and it's pretty awesome but it's no where near how AWESOME it really is. Words have not been invented that could possible convey the experience of eternity!!!
Get a relationship with God through Jesus as soon as you can. Live like you have a relationship as soon as you can.
There is more to life than just here and now.
God's plan endures forever; his purposes last eternally. Psm 33:11
I love that our minds can't contain the idea of heaven. I imagine heaven and it's pretty awesome but it's no where near how AWESOME it really is. Words have not been invented that could possible convey the experience of eternity!!!
Get a relationship with God through Jesus as soon as you can. Live like you have a relationship as soon as you can.
Day 3
Day 3 - What Drives Your Life?
Living on purpose is the path to peace.
"You , LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3
It is usually meaningless work, not overwork, that wears us down, saps our strength, and robs our joy.
You weren't put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.
What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ? This question determines where you spend eternity.
What did you do with what I gave you? This question determines what you do in eternity.
Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Prune away even good activities and do only that which matters most.
Living on purpose is the path to peace.
"You , LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3
It is usually meaningless work, not overwork, that wears us down, saps our strength, and robs our joy.
You weren't put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.
What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ? This question determines where you spend eternity.
What did you do with what I gave you? This question determines what you do in eternity.
Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Prune away even good activities and do only that which matters most.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Day 2
Day 2 - I am not an accident.
I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. - Isaiah 44:2
God made you so He could love you and God doesn't make mistakes. He has a reason for everything He creates.
I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. - Isaiah 44:2
God made you so He could love you and God doesn't make mistakes. He has a reason for everything He creates.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Day 1
So I have read this book before and kept a little journal. I got my book out and opened my old journal and found the next clean sheet of paper and at the top I wrote... 1-30-11 Day 1. I had kept notes to several books and sermons in this same journal from a few years ago. I read back through it and found Day 1 to The Purpose Driven Life. At the top of the page it said... 1-30-05 Day 1.
Day 1 - It's Not About Me
"Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." Colossians 1:16
Idea that I liked:
Being successful is completely different than fulfilling your life's purpose.
Day 1 - It's Not About Me
"Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." Colossians 1:16
Idea that I liked:
Being successful is completely different than fulfilling your life's purpose.
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