The Purpose Driven Life

Living for God

2006-12-12T21:49:00.000-06:00

DAY SEVEN

THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE

Point to Ponder: It's all for Him.

Verse to Remember: "For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for His glory." Romans 11:36

Question to Consider: Where in my daily routine can I become more aware of God's glory?

Living for God means doing everything in life to glorify Him. I try to live for God by having a positive outlook everyday, if I am living for God, I can turn to Him when I do feel distressed and find comfort and guidance, because He is the answer for everything as the title sort of suggests. I find comfort in knowing that my life isn't in my own hands, all I can do is live for God, and he will determine the rest, so why worry about things on earth I can't control?

I definitely don't think that I glorify God enough in my daily routine. I know that I am always in God's presence, but there are times that I am more distant from Him. When I am upset or negative, I don't feel close to God...so probably when I am thinking about stressful classes or if I have a negative attitude at practice. I love when I have a praise song in my head during practice though, because when I have a song in my head, I will start singing it without really thinking about it, but then I am just reminded of God's presence, and my mood changes.

A Temporary Assignment

2006-12-12T00:36:00.000-06:00

Rick Warren says in this chapter that one of the first things you will say when you get to Heaven is,

"Why did I place so much importance on things that were so temporary?"

The most important things in my life are the things I spend the most time on, spend the most money on, and enjoy most. But, most of those things are not going to matter once my life on Earth is over, most of those things aren't going to fulfill God's 'assignment' for my life.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

This verse really puts my life into perspective. It's a daily reminder of the focus I should have for my life. By spending more time with God through prayer and reading His Word, I can have a better perspective on the important things in life. No matter how busy and full my days get; it's important to remember that God is with me 24/7.

Chapter Three: Clutter

2006-12-11T12:58:00.000-06:00

Just a thought on Chapter Three that will answer the five questions in Trotters post.

Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life.
Knowing your purpose simplifies your life.
Knowing your purpose focuses your life.
Knowing your purpose motivates your life.
Knowing your purpose prepares your for eternity.

Those are all very loaded questions, and it shouldn't be so easy to answer any of them. But when I read over all of those quetsions my mind kept going to one word: Clutter. There is so much clutter in my life that is just simply not that important. Things I worry abou that don't need my worries.

Take these questions and apply them to a day when you wake up and you are just flat out BUSY. I'm talking class, homework, athletics, band, just everything is going on at once. Group projects are due, test tomarrow, told someone you'd hang out with you, messages to respond to, facebook wall posts are building up (haha). What happens if you try to do all of these things at once? exactly...NOTHING (maybe you respond to the wall posts...but even still that really doesn't count for much).

Now, if you write out everything you need to do, and go through the checklist one by one, how much easier does that make it to get everything done. It's a lot easier to be productive because you are focussed and concentrated on one goal, how much does that simplify things...now you don't have to do this and this and this. You have to do ONE thing. Finished. You have to do ONE thing....ANYWAY, you see my point.

Now, apply this scenario to a bigger picture, you're life. KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE, makes you have to do ONE thing. and focussing on that ONE thing allows everything else to fall into place, and if it doesn't fall into place, that's probably just your opinion. I need to focus more on GOD, that is the one thing I need to do. He is the only perfection that I know of. If I focus my life more on God, I become selfless, I become invinceable, because people can take my money, my name, my life, but they can't take my beliefs.

1. GIVE MEANING TO YOUR LIFE
2. SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
3. FOCUS YOUR LIFE
4. MOVTIVE YOUR LIFE
5. PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ETERNITY

all 5 things can be accomplished by KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE.

Chapter 4: Made To Last Forever

2006-12-08T07:24:00.000-06:00

Made to Last Forever

Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production. You will spend far more time in eternity than on earth. Your earthly body is just a temporary resident for your spirit. Earth offers so many options, while eternity offers only two: heaven or hell. If you learn to love and trust God’s Son, Jesus, you will be invited to spend the rest of eternity with him. There are two kinds of people: those who say to God “thy will be done” and those to whom God says, “All right then, have it your way.” When you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently. You will start living in light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task, and circumstance. The closer you life to God, the smaller everything else appears. When you live in light of eternity, your values change. There are eternal consequences to everything you do on earth. The most damaging aspect of contemporary living is short-term thinking. There is more to life than just here and now! Words have not been invented that could possibly convey the experience of eternity. The only time most people think about eternity is at funerals, and then it’s often shallow, sentimental thinking, based on ignorance. Only a fool would go through life unprepared for what we all know will eventually happen.

Day Four
Thinking About My Purpose

Point to Ponder: There is more to life than just here and now.

Verse to Remember: “this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will life forever.” 1 John 2:17

Question to Consider: 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?

The one thing I should stop doing is trying to please everyone and start doing things for God. I feel I try to make everyone in this world happy and I know that has to make God mad, but I keep doing it. I need to start doing things for God. I need to accept what he has given me and live for him. People on earth try to do so much on earth they don’t have time for God, I sometime struggle with that. That is why I choose great friends that can sit me down and make me realize what I am doing. That is why I started this blog with Noah. This is a great way to get everyone involved in what we believe in and get everyone to notice there is a great life for you after death. We started this blog so everyone could feel the power of Christ. There are not words that could explain the good things he does in you life. I need to stop trying to be the most popular, best looking, and the funniest guy; and just life my life through Jesus Christ.

Chapter 3 - What drives your life?

2006-12-07T21:45:00.000-06:00

No one too high for me to love, no one too low for me to serve.

I have had this song in my head all day; I think it's by Sanctus Real...called "The Face of Love." The lyrics that I can't seem to stop repeating are - "No one too high for me to love, no one too low for me to serve." Jesus loved those who were hard to love, and served those who were hard to serve. When I think about what I want the driving force to be in my life, I don't think there would be anything better than to have a drive to love and serve the world as a follower of Jesus Christ. However, it isn't easy to be completely selfless, wanting things for myself gets in the way. But, if I can try to have the mindset of Christ, to love everyone despite jealousy or resentment, to lose the pride in myself and serve those who might not be blessed in the ways I have been, then my life would be purposeful for God.

Chapter 3: What Drives Your Life

2006-12-07T11:19:00.000-06:00

What Drives Your Life?

Many of you are driven by a problem, a pressure, or a deadline. There are hundreds of circumstances, values, and emotions that can drive your life. Here are five of the most common ones:

1. Many people are driven by guilt. Guilt-driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future. God specializes in giving people a fresh start.

2. Many people are driven by resentment and anger. They hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain, they rehearse it over and over again in their minds. Your past is past! Nothing will change it.

3. Many people are driven by fear. Fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they’re afraid to venture out. They play it safe. Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be.

4. Many people are driven by materialism. Possessions only provide temporary happiness. God says the most valuable things in life are not things!

5. Many people are driven by the need for approval. Many adults are still trying to earn the approval of unpleasable parents. Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it. One key to failure is to try to please everyone. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters.”

The Benefits of Purpose-Driven Living

There are five great benefits of living a purpose-driven life:

Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life.
Knowing your purpose simplifies your life.
Knowing your purpose focuses you life.
Knowing your purpose motivates you life.
Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity.

Noah will sum these up in his post.

Day Three
Thinking About My Purpose

Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to peace.

Verse to Remember: “You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?

I have always been the religious guy. I have been the guy that has to drag his family out the door to go to church. I believe that god is my main driving for in life. His word really guides me through a lot. Another driving force would be happiness. I want to end up doing something with my life that will make me happy. That deals with family, relationship with Christ, friends, and career. The best driving force in life is a greater relationship with God.

Chapter Two

2006-12-06T08:48:00.000-06:00

You are Not an acccident.

The question to consider at the end of the book is: What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept.

With this question in mind I have to say my biggest personallity flaw is my patience, combined with my competitive spirit. It's not bad to be competitive but sometimes I take that level to an extreme, constantly comparing myself to others, which can leave me feeling bitter or even jealous. I also seem to have a problem wanting to commit to things at times. Sometimes, I want people to like me so much that I try to hard, which might have something to do with the commitment problem. I want to be around eveyone all the time and it's frustrating when you have to pick to do something that will please someone and upset someone else. It might be in relationships or it might just be planning out what I'm doing next weekend, but I have a problem knowing or saying exactly what I want.

The whole point of this chapter is that God made me like this for a reason. I think maybe he made me like this to remind me that I still have plenty of obstacles to conquer. It's a matter of going back and trying to live for him. Most of the problems in my life seem to occur when I choose to do selfish activities as opposed to selfless.

Chapter 2: You Are Not An Accident

2006-12-06T08:24:00.000-06:00

You Are Not An Accident

You birth was not a mistake, your parent might not of planned you but God did. He planned your race, color of skin, hair, and every feature of you. God planned everything to your talents to how long you would live. God made you because he knew that your parents were the correct genetic makeup to create something special like you. God designed you with a purpose in mind. You were created as a special object of God’s love! God made you so he could love you. This is a truth to build your life on.

This poem by Russell Kelfer sums it up:

You are who you are for a reason.
You’re part of an intricate plan.
You’re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God’s special woman or man.

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.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master’s seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you’d grow.

You are who you are for a reason.
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.
You are who you are , beloved,
Because there is a God!

Day Two
Thinking About My Purpose

Point to Ponder: I am no an accident

Verse to Remember: “I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.” Isaiah 44:2

Question to Consider: I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?

The one most common one that everyone can’t except including me is image. I never think I look good enough for people or I always think I can look better. I don’t know another one that I struggle to accept is the fact that my parents are divorced and I dislike my father and don’t talk to him. I accept the fact why my mom divorced him I just can’t get over the fact that yes he created me and I do love him. It is a hard thing to get through my head. One personality thing I struggle with is that I am too nice to everyone. People always say that it is a bad thing. I would like you input on what you think. Should I be mean to some people and be nice to others?

Chapter 1: It All Starts With God

2006-12-06T08:22:00.000-06:00

It All Starts With God

First things first you are not going to discover life’s meaning through yourself you most look to God. You were made by God for God; you didn’t create yourself. You need more help in life than just self-help books or strategies. Instead of speculating on what you think the purpose of life is, we should use revelation. Go to God’s word for instruction on how to live life. The Bible says, “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” There are three insights to this verse.

1. You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you don’t have such a relationship, I will later explain how to begin one.

2. God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without you input! You may choose your career, you spouse, your hobbies, and many other parts of your life, but you don’t get to choose your purpose.

3. The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity. That’s what this book is about.

DAY ONE

Thinking About My Purpose

Point to Ponder: It’s not about me.

Verse to Remember: “Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16

Question to Consider: In spite of al the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?

The one thing that an old friend of mine, aka neighbor, once put up little question marks all around his house in places he visits on a daily basis. These question marks would then signify to him to ask himself what he has done for God today. I believe that is a very good way of doing it. I know many of you out there don’t like to flash to everyone that you are religious because you don’t want to be called a Jesus Freak. So other ways of doing it is put a religious saying in your phone so when you open it that reminds you of God. I am just throwing a couple at you and maybe sparking your thoughts on ways you get can this accomplished. Let me know what you think.