Seeing Life from God’s View

What is your life? James 4:14b (NIV)

Welcome to DAY FIVE fellow traveler!  

This journey is about finding our purpose in life according to what God says. DAY FOUR I was reminded that there is more to life than the here and now…Heaven awaits those who believe and trust in JESUS. Day FIVE was a tough one for me to sort out…so it took me a few days. You see, I have made a life of running ahead of God. Only half listening to Him and running with a project, then wondering why it didn’t work out. I was seeing life from my point of view…looking through a peep hole while God sees the BIG picture.

Here is Day FIVE of “The Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren

DAY FIVE: THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE  (Taken directly from the book, page 46)

“TODAY’S FOCUS:  Seeing Life from God’s View

POINT TO PONDER:  Life is a Test and a Trust

BIBLE VERSE:  ”Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones”  Luke 16:10a (NLT)

QUESTION TO PONDER:  What has happened to me recently that I now realize was a test from God? What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me?”

Here are the treasures I found from  DAY FIVE:

The way we see our life shapes our life. Do we view our life as a gift? Are we making the most of every day, every opportuity to share good will? Are we wisely investing our time, treasure and talents?

According to the book, Rick Warren says, “Life on earth is a test” So I wonder…am I being a positive influence on those around me? Especially when things are NOT going my way…
Rick Warren goes on to say, “Life on earth is a trust” Do I trust God when I don’t understand what is happening? When big heartaches are dragging me under and when I feel I can barely breathe and I want to scream about unfairness…

So what about a test in my life?
One of my recent tests came in the form of something I had been hoping for for a long time. To recapture something I had given up. I thought it was so perfect. I was being pulled back into a world I could no longer conform to.

Romans 12:2 (TEV) says, “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of the world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God.”

I could feel the pull, oh so innocently and at the same time I was presented with things in my path that made me realize I am no longer the person I was. That perfect opportunity was not as it seemed. My choice was to get out of that situation and as I walked away…I felt a sense of perfect peace…now I know why.

The greatest matters that God has entrusted to me are my children. They are my greatest blessings and I love them unconditionally. I know I have made mistakes. However…God is faithful and I trust Him to help my husband and I to raise them to also Trust in God and pass lifes tests with Kingdom colors flying.

What has God entrusted to you? Have you had any tests lately?

Reference:  ”The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, 2002  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, pages 41-46

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Made to Last FOREVER!

Welcome to DAY FOUR fellow traveler!  

This journey is about finding our purpose in life according to what God says. DAY THREE I reflected on what drives my life.  I am sorry to find as I look again into my mirror…God’s purpose has not be mine.  I feel that I need to focus more on others and less on me. This makes my journey with you that much sweeter.  As I write these blogs posts, I am praying for you…that you will find GOD’S DIRECTION for your life as I find mine

This is DAY FOUR.

Here is Day Four of “The Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren

DAY FOUR: THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE  (Taken directly from the book, page 40)

TODAY’S FOCUS:  ”Made to last forever!”

POINT TO PONDER:  There is more to life than the here and now

BIBLE VERSE:  ”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 (NLT)

QUESTION TO PONDER:  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?

Here are the treasures I found from  DAY FOUR:

The one thing I should stop doing is worrying…worrying about my income, about the future, about things I cannot control and I should start focusing on God and His plan for me, and how I can best serve his people.

God has a plan for my life here on earth, however it DOESN’T end here.  God has a plan for you as well.  God offers you and I an opportunity that last beyond our lifetime. So much more that what we see and so much more than what we can even imagine!

“God’s plans endure forever. His purposes last eternally.”  Psalm 33:11 (TEV)

“This world is not my home; I am looking forward to my everlasting home in Heaven.”  Hebrews 13:14 (TEV)

The deeds of this life are the destiny for the next.  What we do now, with all the things God has equipped us with, as we learned about in DAY THREE, our talents, treasure, time, opportunities, etc…all those things uniquely and graciously given to each of us…will come into play in our next life in Heaven. I don’t know how, but I know that God’s plan…God’s purpose WILL be fulfilled.  I choose to work with God and realize His full potential for my life…

How about you?

 

Reference:  ”The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, 2002  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, pages 36-40

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What Drives Your Life?

Welcome to DAY THREE fellow traveler!  

This journey is about finding our purpose in life according to what God says. DAY TWO I learned that I am no accident.  I was uniquely created by a Loving God…He makes No mistakes and He loves me just the way I am…flaws and all…WOO HOO 🙂

This is DAY THREE.

Here is Day Three of “The Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren

DAY THREE: THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE  (Taken directly from the book, page 35)

TODAY’S FOCUS:  ”What Drives Your Life?”

POINT TO PONDER:  Living on purpose is the path to peace

BIBLE VERSE:  ”You, Lord, give perfect paece to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.”  Isaiah 26:3 (TEV)

QUESTION TO PONDER:  What would my family and friends say is the driving force in my life?  What do I want it to be?”

Here are the treasures I found from  DAY THREE:

What drives my life??  I asked my family and friends and the general consensus of the driving force in my life is how I began learning about nutrition after my Dad had a stroke and later died…putting myself through many health & wellness certification programs…how I love teaching people about health & wellness  BUT more importantly is how I am available to help those around me in need…a softly spoken word of encouragement or a hug.

I am happy to hear that I am a positive influence in the lives of those around me. I have a couple of cousins and a dear friend who call me their angel…NOT that I am all that angelic…I hope it is JESUS shining through me…I WANT them to know that they matter.

I don’t think I am all that great…it is God working through me…I have a LONG way to go.  Helping people is a passion of mine, so I can agree that it is a driving force.  My weakness is that I do not rely on God…many times I am flying along at my speed under my own strength.  I get into trouble that way.  Running ahead of God again and again.

God asks, “What did you do with my son, JESUS CHRIST?”  Did I accept what He did for me and did I learn to love & trust Him?  Yes, I have accepted Him…however it was mostly at face value…on the surface…not deep.  I am hoping this journey will leave me clinging to JESUS as if my life depended on it…because it REALLY DOES.

God asks again, “What did you do with what I gave you?”  What am I doing with this life that God has given me…my talents, my strengths, my time, my gifts, my opportunities, my energy and my resources?  I have taken a look in the mirror and I can say that I have spent far more on myself that on others.  I need to focus more on others.

We feel fulfillment in a focused life, our purpose gets done.  Knowing our purpose produces passion.  Instead of running in many different “good” directions and never going any where on God’s  intended pathway for each of us; when we find our purpose, it is then that our passion ignites us from within AND we are free to focus on fulfilling it.

Reference:  “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, 2002  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, pages 27-35

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You are NOT an accident

I started a journey to find my purpose in life according to what God says.  I spent two days pondering day one as I let the message seep in.  This journey may take me more than the 40 days outlined in the book, “The Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren, but that is okay.  I will take my time and enjoy the journey.

Here is Day Two of “The Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren

DAY TWO: THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE  (Taken directly from the book, page 26)

TODAY’S FOCUS:  ”You are not an accident”

POINT TO PONDER:  I am NOT an accident

BIBLE VERSE:  ”I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born” Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)

QUESTION TO PONDER:  Knowing that God uniquely created me, what areas of my personality, background and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

Here are the treasures I found from  DAY TWO:

I find it SO amazing…That God made me, so HE COULD LOVE me! How cool is that!

I struggle with my view of my body…as I get older it is harder and harder to stay in shape.  I can’t stop the aging process (WISH I could!), but I can make healthier choices and stay active.  I have to know that God loves me…NO MATTER the number on the scale.

“The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and what He does for us.”  Romans 12:3

Long before I was conceived by my parents, I was conceived in the mind of God.  God chose my parents specifically for the DNA to make me.  God WANTED to make me exactly the way I am…just like He WANTED to MAKE YOU!

No matter what has happened in our past or who has rejected us or said we have no value…they are WRONG!  We MATTER to GOD.  We are NOT here by chance in some random act of the universe.  We were carefully chosen to have the hair color (tho I enhance mine from a bottle…lol), characteristics and personality traits that we have.  Even who our parents would be, the era we would be on earth and where we would live were chosen ahead of time.  All of this done by a LOVING CREATOR!

This is part of a poem by Russell Kelfer that Rick Warren refers to on page 25.

“You look like you look for a reason.                                                                                             Our God made no mistake.                                                                                                               He knit you together within the womb,                                                                          You’re just what He wanted to make.”

We are equipped with all we need to do our specific job on earth…what my job here is…I do not know…YET.  I will continue my journey in the hopes of finding out.

Reference:  “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, 2002  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, pages 22-26

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It’s not about me

What is my purpose here on earth?

I just started on a 40 day journey to find God’s purpose for my life.  I have struggled for years to find out why I am here.  I am hoping God reveals Himself more to me on this journey.  Perhaps you are wondering why you are here?  Is this all there is?  Do I have any value?  I have been hurt and discarded by those who claim to love me…Why do I even try?

“The Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren may hold the answer to those questions as he speaks GOD’S TRUTHS into my heart.  There are many ways to travel this journey, buy or borrow the book, download it to your Nook, Kindle or other personal device…or get it on CD or DVD…however you can attain it…it is the place to start…

AND the BEST way to travel, is with a friend.  I hope you join me on this journey.  It takes JUST MINUTES a day…a SHORT amount of reading, a CLEAR BIBLE verse, a POINT to PONDER and a QUESTION TO PONDER.

If  you are journeying with me or have already walked this path…I would LOVE to hear from you.  Comment here or send me an email at MyFathersWellness@gmail.com  Let’s get started!

DAY ONE: THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE  (Taken directly from the book, page 21)

TODAY’S FOCUS:  “IT ALL STARTS with GOD

POINT TO PONDER:  It’s NOT ABOUT ME

BIBLE VERSE:  “Everything got started in HIM and finds its PURPOSE in HIM”  Colossians 1:16 (Msg)

QUESTION TO PONDER:  In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about LIVING FOR GOD, NOT MYSELF?”

Here are the treasures I found from  DAY ONE:

I can remind myself that I am living for God an not myself by reaching out to others who are hurting, who are struggling with the very things that haunt me, by repeating todays Bible verse, “Everything, including me, got started in GOD and I will find my purpose in GOD” Col. 1:16 (personalized by me)

My prayer:  “I cannot arrive at my life’s purpose by starting with a focus on myself.  I must begin with You God, my Creator.  YOU created me Father, and YOU LOVE ME.  I was made by You and for You and My purpose is to serve YOU.  My life will never make sense until I understand that. I am worthy because JESUS died for me.  Help me to understand and see your ways.  Thank you.”

Reference:  “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, 2002  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, pages 17-21

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What is my purpose here on earth??