The Purpose Driven Life

[BlestVessel]

This is what I journaled:

One thing I should stop doing is when the times come when my desires are more important to me, I need to stop paying heed to that, and die to myself once more in that moment. Oh, change me into an obedient servant, Lord! Beat me, but do not let me disobey You! In heart, in motive, in action! This ghastly flesh is agonizing and I only want to walk in the newness You have given!

It isn't enough for me that I'll be forgiven, loved, and blessed at Home. I want my life to be a gift I offer Him LONG BEFORE I come home.

My Master, I realize You are to be feared, but I know You've accepted Jesus as my atonement; I just ask You for much strength and wisdom to use for Your glory. Give me a heart of humility and obedience for Your honour, and Yours alone. I love You and I do not want to waste Your gifts, so help me, let's make them worthy of Your seal.

 

[kanga22]

My thoughts on Chapter 4

I am, really for the first time, excited about the prospect of heaven. This life on earth IS a dress rehearsal for eternity with God. I've never thought of it that way before.

I love the scripture reading: This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. 1 John 2:17.

That just puts a lot into perspective for me. This whole book has done wonders for my perspective on life.

============================
Question: Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing and the one thing I should start doing today?

My Answer: Stop caring what the world thinks about what I do, say, and look like. And start caring about what God thinks about my heart in everything I do, and say.

Every idle word will be judged.
Boy, I should look at that statement every morning. Because I am really good at talking just for the sake of filling up quietness. Am I odd that way, or do some of the rest of you do that too?

"There is more to life than just here and now." Rick Warren TPDL
That's easy to forget, isn't it. This statement has me evaluating the molehills that I turn into mountains everyday.

Another line out of the book that touched me was; "This life is preparation for the next". "When you live in the light of eternity, your values change".

That made me remember the analogy of a baby in the womb who for nine months doesn't know that there is any other kind of life for it. Then it is born into the world, and it is a wonderous and different new existence. That's how I feel it will be for us to move from earth to heaven when we die. It will be such a dramatic change that we can't even imagine it now.

This chapter was meaningful to me because I am surrounded by people who believe that the life we have now on earth is all that we get. They think that we just don't exist after we die or that we are reincarnated back to earth. And, I'm talking about people really close to me; my husband, most of my in-laws, my dad, my sister and some of her immediate family, my brother, and one close friend.

Even though I'm surrounded by people who don't believe in heaven, I'm so glad that the Lord has rescued me from their influence. To me that kind of thinking is so hopeless and empty.

 

[BlestVessel]

I'm still being molded in regards to my words too, kanga. Unfortunately, I've far too long blurted out my immediate thoughts-even in this forum-and perceptions rather than exercising wisdom which requires questioning one's motives and possible results and consequences for the recipient(s).

We'll march on in Him!

April

 

[PollyAnna]

Sorry to hear you injured your foot. What happened? Are you doing ok now?

PollyAnna, I'M SO SORRY! All week, I've been keeping my feet elevated. I got seriously injured and hadn't been reading my purpose driven life (because everything's SO FAR AWAY!) I've been on a little bit, but not really long enough to post or anything, just change my signature, etc. I'm on it, now, though! Don't give up! I'll write soon!

Much Love,
April

 

[PollyAnna]

That made me remember the analogy of a baby in the womb who for nine months doesn't know that there is any other kind of life for it. Then it is born into the world, and it is a wonderous and different new existence. That's how I feel it will be for us to move from earth to heaven when we die. It will be such a dramatic change that we can't even imagine it now.

What a great analogy! I've never thought of it that way before. I like.

 

[PollyAnna]

If asked how you picture life, what image would come to your mind?

A fishbowl - swimming 'round and 'round in a circle amilessly living in a glass house.

Not sure what that means about how I view my life LOL but there it is anyway.

Is the way you manage your money preventing God from doing more in your life?

I think we can all learn to manage money better, just as the rest of life is full of learning experiences, I don't think we ever fully arrive at money management either. DH and I are taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace course starting Sept. 1 though so hopefully that will help us understand things a little better. We've been trying for years to find a local class without success. God has blessed us so much over the last 2 years and we want to be sure we're being good stewards of it all.

I think more than how we managed things, God looked at our hearts and saw that we were willing to go wherever he led and with that he helped us to learn to manage things in a better way.

What has happened to me recently that I now realize was a test from God?

I feel like God is constantly testing me so I have many instances I could refer to.

1. My whole family m oving away to other states, some across the country. I believe that is a test to see if I am willing to trust God to be our family and support. I am still quite bitter over it all and have a ways to go before I pass this test I think.

2. Quitting smoking. I am tested every day to see if I will fall back into this habit. 60 days and counting!

3. God uses my son to test my temper daily. Sometimes I pass, sometimes I don't.

What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me?

Our finances and our son.

 

[BlestVessel]

I've begun walking pretty normally today! YAY! I'm praising God every few steps!!!!!! I still love leaning on walls and if I do it just right, I can look like some oddball who is trying to look cool.. hehe.... I messed up my left hip and right ankle and knee falling down some stairs, but I'm good now! Nothing broken, just out of place and a little torn muscle tissue. Everyone needs at least ONE minor injury to have fully lived, right? Well, I guess I did! lol

 

[BlestVessel]

One thing God's been bringing to my attention (since I messed up beyond belief in walking in the Spirit this week) is left out of Chapter 4. Rick said there are those who tell God "Your will be done" and those to whom God says "All right then, have it your way." Yet there are more often in the church those of us who've said "Your will be done," but meant Your will be done in MOST areas of my life or convince themselves that God's will is their own, lying to themselves and to God, while quenching the Holy Spirit....
Just an observation. That REALLY puts a wedge between us and our Lord. And I'm so very happy He made me take an honest look at that. I hope that really encourages someone else to look at themselves seriously, truly, deeply. It's so great to be in love with our Lord, isn't it?!


Okay, on to greater purpose!

 

[BlestVessel]

A fishbowl?? lol Maybe you feel like you're on display. A fishbowl is how I usually describe the life of a minister or someone in service, where everything they do, everything their family does, is "under observation" and magnified. Often, churchgoers seem to think the minister is to be some super-human saint, rather than a real, ordinary one. Anyway, my two cents.

Good tests.
I'll be praying about those, Pollyanna.
I'll write for Day 5 later, I give my word. I'm getting back in the groove!

Much Love,
Your Little Sister

 

[BlestVessel]

Awesome sermon I've been listening to that relates to this topic... hopefully, I pasted it right.
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/spurgeon_sermons/Archives.asp

This is what I journaled for Day 5...

I've always viewed my life as a walk, a journey. A picture in which I walk narrow paths, winding a snow-covered mountain and over hills and through fields and pastures and meadows, forests and jungles, desert and icelands; periolous and wonderful. The light of God's glory, my eternal Home, ever-before me, His hand always upon me. I fall and He picks me up, I stumble and He sets my eyes on the joy set before me.

I now realize, as never before, that every person in our lives-or within our sphere of influence-God has entrusted with us. We can build or destroy, speak life or death, be ruled by us in our dealings or by our Lord; we can draw beneficial boundaries or overstep limitations in thought, behaviour, and action. We elect to be easily-affected or to effort to look through the eyes of another and of our God. We react or we hold firm in the Spirit who roots us in love and truth and reason that cannot be seen by the flesh.

It isn't only seeing life from God's view (as far as we can grasp His view while on earth, at least), but living always aware of His watchful, loving eyes. Our actions and thoughts and motives are more easily held accountable when we're aware He sees all, since it is Him we live for and Him we strive to serve in every way.

One can be a good steward of most all things, but fail to deal well with what matters most. Unsurrendered, we mistreat His most valuable gifts, and in doing so, find they are lost or destroyed. It's a hard lesson to learn....
it's a blessing that God removes these things from our lives, often only for a time, so we become dependent on Him, and sometimes, have opportunity to serve Him with these gifts when returned or restored to us. It's a good thing we're told not to lean on our own understanding, because in that is foolishness and a door is opened to placing our emotions and our line of thinking above His. Such idolatry is dangerous ground and makes bad stewardship a greater possibility than I could've imagined.


Be Blessed In Restoration & Newness,

April

 

[PollyAnna]

I messed up my left hip and right ankle and knee falling down some stairs, but I'm good now! Nothing broken, just out of place and a little torn muscle tissue. Everyone needs at least ONE minor injury to have fully lived, right? Well, I guess I did! lol

I just did exactly that same thing in January (except it was my right hip and left knee/foot)! My knee and arch still aren't completely healed. Purely as a sense of encouragement to you through all the pain you must be in, try to remember that God will work even this for good things in your life. I got my dreamhouse out of it when it happened to me.

Praying for a speeding recovery for you!

 

[BlestVessel]

lol A dreamhouse, hm? Well, there isn't anything in this world that's terribly interesting to me right now... one situation, though, and God's will is going to be accomplished, so we'll see. I was all night in the ER last night, I made my first venture out and we had dinner and I got food poisoning. I knew this would be an interesting month! Anyway, I'm going to be on some medication-which, I'm really sensitive to chemicals/drugs and right now, I'm very spacey because of all the shots-but I'll keep reading the book and keep up on reading posts and post soon this week.

Thanks for your prayers, hon.

Much Lov,
April

 

[PollyAnna]

Wow! You are having a rough month. It wasn't Applebee's you ate at was it? Life is better with adventure in it anyway. We're always laughing here b/c nothing is ever boring with us. Something is always happening to keep things exciting. Looking forward to hearing how God works through all of this in your life.

 

[BlestVessel]

Day 6

God's been dealing a great deal with my eternal perspective. There's that fine balance between the extraordinary and the mundane, and honouring Him in both. Ministry and relationships are the priority, yes, but tasks and organization are needed in this world of chaos. We don't ALWAYS walk down the street daydreaming in our own little world and speaking to the Lord while neglecting our next objective, or ignoring the people we're walking by and the oncoming opportunities to speak the gospel. We DO live in a world He's encompassed by time, so being faithful with that time in caring for ourselves and accomplishing what is truly important is essential.

As He reminded me-likely for the tenth time this year-there is a balance between loving and praising at His feet, soaking Him in as Mary and fulfilling all that is required of us each day in service to Him as Martha. True, living the Christian life often means innumerable miracles, great or small, and great tasks which the world will not understand, such as intercession for hours on end, healing, preaching, spiritual mentoring, a list of eternal responsibilities that come with the territory. Yet at the same time, we can't just lay out on our lawn and wait for Jesus to return. There are still earthly obligations... cooking and cleaning and laundry and appointments and to-do lists and people to care for and work and study to be looked after. I like that "self-control" is the final fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians. I'm coming to find it was the last which I "allowed" the Lord to administer to my character and being. We want to live the victorious Christian life and we want to follow Him and serve Him, but too often, we want to do this-do life-our way. That's when we quench the Holy Spirit and ignore His promptings and passively let Him know that we don't REALLY want to submit, just a little bit, just when it's convenient and comfortable.

Thankfully, I'm beginning to call quenching the Spirit a "favourite pasttime." There are times and ways we enjoy making ourselves miserable by trying to control our own lives, and then when that fails, hopefully, that's when we're finally willing to listen. But now I've learned to constantly ask the Lord if I'm keeping anything out of submission, if there's anything I don't want to hear that He's trying to tell me, if I haven't really repented in my heart for this or that, if I'm truly pursuing Him in each everyday action or am I just convincing myself that I am? When we ask these questions, He is faithful and answers. I wouldn't be writing this post if I wasn't feeling so convicted! lol So, hopefully, someone can learn from my hard lesson-even when things are comfortable-to be certain that you're comfortable because you're in His will and not because things are going you're way or you're controlling what you think you need to.


Much Love,
April

 

[Joy]

sorry have not been about various difficulties value your prayers. will be back in next few days

 

[BlestVessel]

Pollyanna and Everyone in this thread.
Sorry I've been slacking in this. This link explains why, to some degree.
But I love you guys and I do hope you stick it through to the end of the book, online or not, even if you've had to take a break from it here or there.

http://www.christianforums.com/t822745

In Him,
April

 

[PollyAnna]

I was just coming in here to post that God is doing such an awesome work in my life right now and it's taking me away from this book at the moment. It's an awesome book but there are so many other things going on right now that I have to set it aside and put my time and energy into these other things.

BlessedVessel, I read your thread and I wanted to encourage you that God knows his call on your life and he will be there with you through it all, whatever it may be. Our pastor did a sermon this morning on Joshua 1:1-18 relating it to the call of God on ppl's lives and it says several times "Be strong and courageous". God will be with you as you follow in his obedience.

Life in Abundance, sorry to hear you're having troubles. You're in my prayers.