Day seven “It’s all for him.”
We were put here to bring glory to God. What does this mean to you?
To me, it means I’m here at his good pleasure, his mercy, to honor him.
“God’s glory is best seen in Jesus Christ.” When Jesus was on earth, what kind of person was he? What did he do with his time. What/who did he talk about?
“God’s glory is who God is. It is the essence of his nature, the weight of his importance, the radiance of his splendor, the demonstration of his power, and the atmosphere of his presence.”
How can we fulfill God’s purpose for our lives on a daily basis…moment by moment?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Day six
Day six “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.”
Okay life is a test, a trust and…
“Life on earth is a temporary assignment.”
We talked about the fact that life here on earth is boot camp for eternity, preparation for eternity, dress rehearsal! As we grow older, we begin to see just how short our lives truly are! At 51, I can’t believe I’ve lived a good portion of my time on earth…I have 3 grandchildren and even they are growing up fast! My husband and I have been married for 32 years next month and our children are ages 30 and 27...no wonder his hair is white (mine is not! And NO, I don’t color it!)!
We need to remember that earth is not our ultimate home. Does this give you any comfort or is it frightening to you?
Rick Warren says one reason we are never satisfied completely is because we aren’t made just for the here and now. We are made for God.
Okay life is a test, a trust and…
“Life on earth is a temporary assignment.”
We talked about the fact that life here on earth is boot camp for eternity, preparation for eternity, dress rehearsal! As we grow older, we begin to see just how short our lives truly are! At 51, I can’t believe I’ve lived a good portion of my time on earth…I have 3 grandchildren and even they are growing up fast! My husband and I have been married for 32 years next month and our children are ages 30 and 27...no wonder his hair is white (mine is not! And NO, I don’t color it!)!
We need to remember that earth is not our ultimate home. Does this give you any comfort or is it frightening to you?
Rick Warren says one reason we are never satisfied completely is because we aren’t made just for the here and now. We are made for God.
Day five
Day five talks about “Seeing life from God ‘s view.”
What is a good metaphor for how you view your life?
Personally, I see my life as a journey full of twists and turns, full of stops and starts. I see the journey as complete when I stand before God.
Rick Warren says:
“Life on earth is a test.”
Have you been tested lately? Maybe you haven’t recognized that you’ve been tested but you have. Think about it…
“Life on earth is trust.”
What has God trusted you with and what are you doing with it?
I remember asking my father as a very young woman, “What is God’s will for my life?” I was expecting him to help me explore the ideas of marriage and career. Instead he said this, “Be faithful in the thing you know to be faithful in and God will reveal the rest step by step.” His words and this truth have profoundly affected my life and still do!
What is a good metaphor for how you view your life?
Personally, I see my life as a journey full of twists and turns, full of stops and starts. I see the journey as complete when I stand before God.
Rick Warren says:
“Life on earth is a test.”
Have you been tested lately? Maybe you haven’t recognized that you’ve been tested but you have. Think about it…
“Life on earth is trust.”
What has God trusted you with and what are you doing with it?
I remember asking my father as a very young woman, “What is God’s will for my life?” I was expecting him to help me explore the ideas of marriage and career. Instead he said this, “Be faithful in the thing you know to be faithful in and God will reveal the rest step by step.” His words and this truth have profoundly affected my life and still do!
Day four
Day four starts with this statement…”This life is not all there is.”
What do you think about Rick’s statement…”Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production.”
DRESS REHEARSAL???
I like to think of this life as boot camp for the next life. When I try to wrap my mind around the fact that this life is just the beginning, just rehearsal, just boot camp…whew! It sheds a completely new light on all the STUFF that happens especially the bad or hard STUFF!
“When this tent we live in - our body here on earth - is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.”
I find myself living as if today is all there is…I get totally enamored with the here and now but God has made me to live forever.
Rick says, “Your relationship to God on earth will determine your relationship to him in eternity.” In light of this, what’s your relationship with God going to be like in heaven?
What do you think about Rick’s statement…”Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production.”
DRESS REHEARSAL???
I like to think of this life as boot camp for the next life. When I try to wrap my mind around the fact that this life is just the beginning, just rehearsal, just boot camp…whew! It sheds a completely new light on all the STUFF that happens especially the bad or hard STUFF!
“When this tent we live in - our body here on earth - is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.”
I find myself living as if today is all there is…I get totally enamored with the here and now but God has made me to live forever.
Rick says, “Your relationship to God on earth will determine your relationship to him in eternity.” In light of this, what’s your relationship with God going to be like in heaven?
Day three
Day three Rick asks us…What’s driving your life?
I’ve found the things that drive us are many and varied. Let me list a few…
The need for acceptance
The desire for money and status
Fear
Guilt
Anger and resentment
The need for approval
The desire for fame
The desire and need for peace
Not all our desires and needs are wrong but to make these desires and needs the focus of our lives is. In fact, I think to be driven in these ways to is tragic…to be driven (controlled) by anything other than God is missing out of God’s best.
What is currently driving (controlling) your life?
God says…
“I know what I am planning for you….I have good plans for you , not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.”
I’ve found the things that drive us are many and varied. Let me list a few…
The need for acceptance
The desire for money and status
Fear
Guilt
Anger and resentment
The need for approval
The desire for fame
The desire and need for peace
Not all our desires and needs are wrong but to make these desires and needs the focus of our lives is. In fact, I think to be driven in these ways to is tragic…to be driven (controlled) by anything other than God is missing out of God’s best.
What is currently driving (controlling) your life?
God says…
“I know what I am planning for you….I have good plans for you , not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.”
Day two
Day two Rick Warren shares with us a WONDERFUL truth…
“You are not accident.”
Have you ever felt as if your life was accidental?
Well, if you’ve ever felt this way, Rick’s next words should make you want to dance in the highway!
“Your birth was not mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. You parents may not have planned you, but God did.”
“God prescribed every single detail of your body. He deliberately chose your race, the color of your skin, your hair, and every other feature. He custom-made your body just the way he wanted it. He also determined the natural talents you would possess and the uniqueness of your personality.”
In light of these statements, what is God saying to you?
I’ll tell you what he’s saying to me…I’m not a mistake…nothing about me is a mistake. I may have surprised my parents, but I didn’t surprise him! I was made by God to be just the way I am…inside and out. I don’t have to try to be like anyone else. Just because I’m a little loud and a little over the top and on the edge doesn’t mean I’m not useful to God. I don’t have to be ashamed of who I am. AND I need to take care of the woman HE made me!
YeeHaw! I’m dancing now!
“You are not accident.”
Have you ever felt as if your life was accidental?
Well, if you’ve ever felt this way, Rick’s next words should make you want to dance in the highway!
“Your birth was not mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. You parents may not have planned you, but God did.”
“God prescribed every single detail of your body. He deliberately chose your race, the color of your skin, your hair, and every other feature. He custom-made your body just the way he wanted it. He also determined the natural talents you would possess and the uniqueness of your personality.”
In light of these statements, what is God saying to you?
I’ll tell you what he’s saying to me…I’m not a mistake…nothing about me is a mistake. I may have surprised my parents, but I didn’t surprise him! I was made by God to be just the way I am…inside and out. I don’t have to try to be like anyone else. Just because I’m a little loud and a little over the top and on the edge doesn’t mean I’m not useful to God. I don’t have to be ashamed of who I am. AND I need to take care of the woman HE made me!
YeeHaw! I’m dancing now!
Now let's start with Day One!
Day one Rick Warren slaps us upside the head with this statement…
“It’s not about you.”
Please share how this made you feel…were you surprised to learn that the purpose of life is about more than simply your happiness?
Personally speaking, I used to think that being happy was the most important thing in the world to me. I also thought that basically, I wasn’t a selfish person…after all, my mom taught me to share my crayons and open doors for older folks (thanks, Mom!) but as I’ve come to learn and know Christ more, I realize that I’m basically a very selfish person! Basically, it’s been about Jane…what turns me on, makes me happy, fulfills me as woman! I’ve come to see that without Jesus in the very center of my life, my life is hopelessly SELF centered!
Yuk…I hate to admit this to you!
“It’s not about you.”
Please share how this made you feel…were you surprised to learn that the purpose of life is about more than simply your happiness?
Personally speaking, I used to think that being happy was the most important thing in the world to me. I also thought that basically, I wasn’t a selfish person…after all, my mom taught me to share my crayons and open doors for older folks (thanks, Mom!) but as I’ve come to learn and know Christ more, I realize that I’m basically a very selfish person! Basically, it’s been about Jane…what turns me on, makes me happy, fulfills me as woman! I’ve come to see that without Jesus in the very center of my life, my life is hopelessly SELF centered!
Yuk…I hate to admit this to you!
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