Key Points:
God wants all of you and he desires your full devotion.
God is pleased when our worship is accurate, authentic,thoughtful, and practical
The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart
Verse: "Love the lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30
I struggled a bit today, nothing wrong happened really but I just kinda feel in a slump. This just isn't how I thought my life was going to turn out ya know? I think I have been waiting for something or someone to save me and I know that the things that will save me is my relationship with God. When I got a little panicked this afternoon I remembered the lyrics to a song " there must be something more than this for all I've found is emptiness and hurt and who am I to fake it all, I'm lost without you. and all that I bring is a love song to my king. Father fill my heart and make me yours." Thats the prayer I am praying tonight, please make me whole and fill my heart with joy and passion. I cannot accomplish the things you have set before me without your help. Led me in the direction you have called me to and give me the strength live this life like you intended me to....heres to hoping my prayers are answered. I need you more than ever
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Day Tweleve: " Developing Your Friendship with God"
Key Points:
You are only as close to God as you choose to be.
You much chose to be honest with God.
You must choose to obey God in faith.
You must choose to value what God values, the more you become God's friend, the more you will care about the things he cares about.
You must desire friendship with God more than anything else
Verse "I pour out my complaints before him and tell him my troubles. For I am overwhelmed." Psalm 142:2-3a
"Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you" James 4:8a
So I have come to accept that I probably won't be going to bed before midnight anytime in the near future. But I do enjoy getting to do this as the last thing I do before I go to bed. This is a bit off topic but the message tonight as Wesley really spoke to me. The message was about the holy spirit and how we need it in our lives. We spend so much time asking for things we think we need, an internship boyfriend job money etc but what we really need is to be filled with the holy spirit. So...thats what I'm praying for...to be overcome with the holy spirit and the presence of God in my life. I want to feel connected, I would like for this to be so much for than a ritual. I observe others worshiping and I just don't feel like I am having the same connection or experience as they are. Am I missing something? Why don't I feel as close to God as the others? I think I'm ashamed. I'm not sure that I feel worthy enough to praise God. I kinda get to start over with the folks as Wesley and Athens Church because they don't know my past, but God does. I know he loves me anyway but I suppose I just need help rebuilding my relationship with him. I want to fall in love with Jesus. In relation to the reading the passage about how you are only as close to Goad as you choose to be really spoke to me and makes complete since. Over the past four years I have not been seeking a relationship and in turn have not had one. But now that I am trying I do feel God in my life...but just not in the that I think I should. I'm still figuring this whole thing out...but just like it takes lots of studying to learn class material or lots of practice to develop a skill..this too will come in time. I'm working on being honest with God. This reading made a lot of sense. I do need to be straight forward with God about what I'm feeling. Today I am feeling a bit anxious and a little lonely. I'm anxious about several things. 1. I am worried about my relationship with a certain someone. I am afraid that the feelings I have and the type of relationship I want as not in line with his thinking. I am also afraid to bring it up with him. 2. I am anxious about my summer plans and my plans post graduation. Both as so uncertain and uncertainty scares me. 3. I am anxious about my relationship with the Lord...I'm just not sure I'm doing this right. How do I know he hears my prayers? How do I deepen my relationship with him? How can I please him? How can I make sure we communicate? Am I worthy? Does he still love me? yes..I do know all the answers to these questions in theory but I need the answers to revel themselves in practice. I'm also feeling a bit lonely. I am longing for two different types of intimidate relationships. I want a close and personal realtionship with God and I also want to develop relationships with Christ centered people here in Athens. Basically I just want to feel loved and to be taken care of. I kid myself and say that I'm "low maintaince" and don't require much attention but really I think I say that because I am so use to not getting any. I long to be loved and admired and cared for both by God and by people. Honestly right now I just need a hug...personal contact and comfort. I need someone to lean on here on earth and in heaven. I'm praying god will revel this person to me and open himself up to be my rock. I'm comfortable with the choices I'm making in my life but they scare me to tears...
You are only as close to God as you choose to be.
You much chose to be honest with God.
You must choose to obey God in faith.
You must choose to value what God values, the more you become God's friend, the more you will care about the things he cares about.
You must desire friendship with God more than anything else
Verse "I pour out my complaints before him and tell him my troubles. For I am overwhelmed." Psalm 142:2-3a
"Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you" James 4:8a
So I have come to accept that I probably won't be going to bed before midnight anytime in the near future. But I do enjoy getting to do this as the last thing I do before I go to bed. This is a bit off topic but the message tonight as Wesley really spoke to me. The message was about the holy spirit and how we need it in our lives. We spend so much time asking for things we think we need, an internship boyfriend job money etc but what we really need is to be filled with the holy spirit. So...thats what I'm praying for...to be overcome with the holy spirit and the presence of God in my life. I want to feel connected, I would like for this to be so much for than a ritual. I observe others worshiping and I just don't feel like I am having the same connection or experience as they are. Am I missing something? Why don't I feel as close to God as the others? I think I'm ashamed. I'm not sure that I feel worthy enough to praise God. I kinda get to start over with the folks as Wesley and Athens Church because they don't know my past, but God does. I know he loves me anyway but I suppose I just need help rebuilding my relationship with him. I want to fall in love with Jesus. In relation to the reading the passage about how you are only as close to Goad as you choose to be really spoke to me and makes complete since. Over the past four years I have not been seeking a relationship and in turn have not had one. But now that I am trying I do feel God in my life...but just not in the that I think I should. I'm still figuring this whole thing out...but just like it takes lots of studying to learn class material or lots of practice to develop a skill..this too will come in time. I'm working on being honest with God. This reading made a lot of sense. I do need to be straight forward with God about what I'm feeling. Today I am feeling a bit anxious and a little lonely. I'm anxious about several things. 1. I am worried about my relationship with a certain someone. I am afraid that the feelings I have and the type of relationship I want as not in line with his thinking. I am also afraid to bring it up with him. 2. I am anxious about my summer plans and my plans post graduation. Both as so uncertain and uncertainty scares me. 3. I am anxious about my relationship with the Lord...I'm just not sure I'm doing this right. How do I know he hears my prayers? How do I deepen my relationship with him? How can I please him? How can I make sure we communicate? Am I worthy? Does he still love me? yes..I do know all the answers to these questions in theory but I need the answers to revel themselves in practice. I'm also feeling a bit lonely. I am longing for two different types of intimidate relationships. I want a close and personal realtionship with God and I also want to develop relationships with Christ centered people here in Athens. Basically I just want to feel loved and to be taken care of. I kid myself and say that I'm "low maintaince" and don't require much attention but really I think I say that because I am so use to not getting any. I long to be loved and admired and cared for both by God and by people. Honestly right now I just need a hug...personal contact and comfort. I need someone to lean on here on earth and in heaven. I'm praying god will revel this person to me and open himself up to be my rock. I'm comfortable with the choices I'm making in my life but they scare me to tears...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
"Day Eleven: " Becoming Best Friends with God"
Key Points:
God wants to be your best friend
You become best friends with God through constant conversation and through continual meditation.
Friendship with God is build by sharing all your life experiences
Everything you do can be spending time with God if he is invited to be part of it and you stay aware of his presence
It's not changing what you do but changing you attitude toward what you do. What you normally do for yourself you begin to do for god.
Worship is not an event to attend but a perpetual attitude
You must train your brain to remember God
The more you meditate on God's word, the less you will have to worry about
Verse: " Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him" Psalm 25:14a
I'm finding it a bit ironic that constant communication with God is what this chapter is about because I am just blogging about that a few days ago. I find myself praying more than just and night and reciting bible verses over in head when I get stressed. I suppose that is why they always told us it was important to memorize verses. I am exited about the opportunity Athens Church is giving me next few weeks to begin a class called Starting Point, so that I can begin to read the bible. I was telling Payton, I have always known who God was and that Jesus died on the cross to save my sins but I have never known what it means to have a personal daily relationship with God. It's amazing how much it can transform you in just 11 days. I'm praying that this is only the beginning. My mind is heavy and I'm hoping God can help me clear my head and trust in him.
God wants to be your best friend
You become best friends with God through constant conversation and through continual meditation.
Friendship with God is build by sharing all your life experiences
Everything you do can be spending time with God if he is invited to be part of it and you stay aware of his presence
It's not changing what you do but changing you attitude toward what you do. What you normally do for yourself you begin to do for god.
Worship is not an event to attend but a perpetual attitude
You must train your brain to remember God
The more you meditate on God's word, the less you will have to worry about
Verse: " Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him" Psalm 25:14a
I'm finding it a bit ironic that constant communication with God is what this chapter is about because I am just blogging about that a few days ago. I find myself praying more than just and night and reciting bible verses over in head when I get stressed. I suppose that is why they always told us it was important to memorize verses. I am exited about the opportunity Athens Church is giving me next few weeks to begin a class called Starting Point, so that I can begin to read the bible. I was telling Payton, I have always known who God was and that Jesus died on the cross to save my sins but I have never known what it means to have a personal daily relationship with God. It's amazing how much it can transform you in just 11 days. I'm praying that this is only the beginning. My mind is heavy and I'm hoping God can help me clear my head and trust in him.
DayTen: " The Heart of Worship"
It is of course after midnight when I am getting to this but since I have not gone to sleep yet I am sticking to the fact that it is still today! It seems that this semester is going to be much busier than any I have had before. Between the internship, work, 14 hours of classes, attempting outside research avenues, applying for summer internships, and a considering/applying to PhD programs I have my hands full! This doesn't even begin to consider my attempted social life, the boy, and adding Wesley, Athens Church, and Starting Point to my weekly routine....did I mention training for marathons somewhere in there too! BUT I'm praying that God gives me the strength to handle it all and peace of mind to feel the clam within the storm. I get so stressed sometimes that it's hard to breath! I found myself praying constantly today...in all kinds of different places and it helped. I'm focusing on making sure that in all things I do that I glorify God. Yes my days are very very long, yes I am very overwhelmed BUT things are good, I am blessed to have the opportunity to learn, work, and praise God. I am reminded of the poem about attitude we use to read at summer camp. I believe I have a choice about how happy I want to be everyday in the face of adversity and I'm choosing to be happy. I think that by enjoying life I am pleasing God, as long as I give him glory in all things and know that it is only through him that this is possible.
Key Points:
The heart of worship is surrender
True worship happens when you give yourself completely to God
There are three barriers to surrender 1. fear 2. pride 3. confusion
Trust is the essential ingredient to surrender
Loves casts out all fear and the more you realize how much God loves you the easier surrender becomes
The more we let God take us over the more truly ourselves we become.
Instead of trying harder, trust more.
If you don't surrender to Christ then you surrender to chaos
Nothing under has control can ever be out of control
Daily practice
Verse: " Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purpose" Romans 6:13
I am very taken by the thought that nothing under God's control can ever be out of control. This helps ease my mind about giving it all to God. When you meet me it is very easy to see that I am two things, a control freak and a people pleaser. I am in a constant state of panic and I stress myself to tears. I also over analyze relationships, interactions etc because I am so so so concerned about pleasing the ones that I love. I think we tend to forget about pleasing God because we have this mentality that he loves us anyways so why does it matter. Wrong wrong wrong. I have been finding myself praying more and more Thy will be done and am working everyday to surrender to God's will. I suppose I need a bit more trust...more signs perhaps. I'm just scared....thats it...plain and simple... I'm terrified...I'm not quite sure of what but I am...
Key Points:
The heart of worship is surrender
True worship happens when you give yourself completely to God
There are three barriers to surrender 1. fear 2. pride 3. confusion
Trust is the essential ingredient to surrender
Loves casts out all fear and the more you realize how much God loves you the easier surrender becomes
The more we let God take us over the more truly ourselves we become.
Instead of trying harder, trust more.
If you don't surrender to Christ then you surrender to chaos
Nothing under has control can ever be out of control
Daily practice
Verse: " Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purpose" Romans 6:13
I am very taken by the thought that nothing under God's control can ever be out of control. This helps ease my mind about giving it all to God. When you meet me it is very easy to see that I am two things, a control freak and a people pleaser. I am in a constant state of panic and I stress myself to tears. I also over analyze relationships, interactions etc because I am so so so concerned about pleasing the ones that I love. I think we tend to forget about pleasing God because we have this mentality that he loves us anyways so why does it matter. Wrong wrong wrong. I have been finding myself praying more and more Thy will be done and am working everyday to surrender to God's will. I suppose I need a bit more trust...more signs perhaps. I'm just scared....thats it...plain and simple... I'm terrified...I'm not quite sure of what but I am...
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Day Nine: "What Makes God Smile?"
Key Points:
The smile of God is the goal of your life
The bible says " figure out what will please Christ, and the do it"
There are five acts of worship that make God smile 1. when we love him supremely 2. when we trust him completely 3. when we obey him wholeheartedly 4. when we praise and thank him continually 5. when we use our abilities
Every activity, except for sin, can be done for God's pleasure if you do it with an attitude of praise.
What God looks at is the attitude of your heart: Is pleasing him your deepest desire. The focus changes from how much am I getting out of life to how much is is God getting out of my life?
If you make pleasing God the goal of your life there is nothing that God won't do for the person totally absorbed with this goal.
Verse: " The Lord is pleased with those who worship him and trust his love" Psalm 147: 11
This chapter was very straight forward and upfront shared that the goal of your life should be pleasing God. When I first read this I was a little concerned. I think we get into a trap and think that we can only be praising God when we are doing religious things like church, bible study etc but this chapter makes it clear that everything you do in your life, if done for God, can please him. This makes sense...since God made us and gave each of us special talents and abilities then of course he would want us to use them. I think the key is using them in the right manner. So my ability to run should be used to inspire others or fundraise and my ability to research should be used to create useful knowledge to help transform someones life...ah ha...that makes total sense. Another pleasing act to God mentioned in the reading is loving God wholeheartedly. I think that I am finally starting to understand the love that God has for me and just as i long to be loved, so does he. I think all this searching...this I need a boyfriend thing is really my way of attempting to fill the void where God's love should fill my heart. Once you understand that God loves you more than you can even understand and this his love is more powerful and faithful that any earthly love...the longing kinda goes away. I am complete with God's love...and thats all I need. Knowing God loves me makes me feel worthy and important in the way I think you are suppose to feel in a marriage. That being said...I still want a boyfriend and I think that God wants me to have one too. God gave Adam Eve and in turn will also give me a husband. I'm praying about it and most of all praying for guidance. A prayer that God will lead me into a growing relationship with a man who is in love with. As we grow in our personal relationship with the Lord, we will grow together. Maybe this person, the husband god has picked out for me, is who I think it is...and if it then great, awesome, I am so happy to have found him...but if it's not...then I'm praying God will give me the signs to recognize this and move forward. I think that brings me to the the second point made in the reading, it pleases God when we trust him completely. Noah trusted God with all his heart and followed his will. I would like to be like Noah. I think there are so many areas in my life where I tend to not acknowledge God and try to tackle in my own. Doesn't it seems a lot like we only ask God for help when we need something...when we have tried to handle something on our own and realized that without God we are powerless. I think what I'm trying to say is that I need God's grace and help in all the areas of my life. Trusting God completely is something I am defiantly still struggling with. But I think that this trust comes with a relationship and I a build and grow in my relationship with the lord...I will also learn to trust him undoubtedly. So right now I am in a place of uncertainty and am hoping that God will reveal himself to guide me in the right direction. I pray that he sees the strides I have made to turn my life around and that I seeking a personal relationship with him in all I do. If someone asked me right now what I wanted most out of life my answer would be to fulfill purpose and do something that matters and to know that no matter what happened in my life in the end I loved and trusted the lord with all my heart.
The smile of God is the goal of your life
The bible says " figure out what will please Christ, and the do it"
There are five acts of worship that make God smile 1. when we love him supremely 2. when we trust him completely 3. when we obey him wholeheartedly 4. when we praise and thank him continually 5. when we use our abilities
Every activity, except for sin, can be done for God's pleasure if you do it with an attitude of praise.
What God looks at is the attitude of your heart: Is pleasing him your deepest desire. The focus changes from how much am I getting out of life to how much is is God getting out of my life?
If you make pleasing God the goal of your life there is nothing that God won't do for the person totally absorbed with this goal.
Verse: " The Lord is pleased with those who worship him and trust his love" Psalm 147: 11
This chapter was very straight forward and upfront shared that the goal of your life should be pleasing God. When I first read this I was a little concerned. I think we get into a trap and think that we can only be praising God when we are doing religious things like church, bible study etc but this chapter makes it clear that everything you do in your life, if done for God, can please him. This makes sense...since God made us and gave each of us special talents and abilities then of course he would want us to use them. I think the key is using them in the right manner. So my ability to run should be used to inspire others or fundraise and my ability to research should be used to create useful knowledge to help transform someones life...ah ha...that makes total sense. Another pleasing act to God mentioned in the reading is loving God wholeheartedly. I think that I am finally starting to understand the love that God has for me and just as i long to be loved, so does he. I think all this searching...this I need a boyfriend thing is really my way of attempting to fill the void where God's love should fill my heart. Once you understand that God loves you more than you can even understand and this his love is more powerful and faithful that any earthly love...the longing kinda goes away. I am complete with God's love...and thats all I need. Knowing God loves me makes me feel worthy and important in the way I think you are suppose to feel in a marriage. That being said...I still want a boyfriend and I think that God wants me to have one too. God gave Adam Eve and in turn will also give me a husband. I'm praying about it and most of all praying for guidance. A prayer that God will lead me into a growing relationship with a man who is in love with. As we grow in our personal relationship with the Lord, we will grow together. Maybe this person, the husband god has picked out for me, is who I think it is...and if it then great, awesome, I am so happy to have found him...but if it's not...then I'm praying God will give me the signs to recognize this and move forward. I think that brings me to the the second point made in the reading, it pleases God when we trust him completely. Noah trusted God with all his heart and followed his will. I would like to be like Noah. I think there are so many areas in my life where I tend to not acknowledge God and try to tackle in my own. Doesn't it seems a lot like we only ask God for help when we need something...when we have tried to handle something on our own and realized that without God we are powerless. I think what I'm trying to say is that I need God's grace and help in all the areas of my life. Trusting God completely is something I am defiantly still struggling with. But I think that this trust comes with a relationship and I a build and grow in my relationship with the lord...I will also learn to trust him undoubtedly. So right now I am in a place of uncertainty and am hoping that God will reveal himself to guide me in the right direction. I pray that he sees the strides I have made to turn my life around and that I seeking a personal relationship with him in all I do. If someone asked me right now what I wanted most out of life my answer would be to fulfill purpose and do something that matters and to know that no matter what happened in my life in the end I loved and trusted the lord with all my heart.
Day Eight " Planned for God's Purpose"
So of course it's after midnight when I am finally getting to sitting down and writing this but I haven't gone to sleep yet, so I guess it still counts as day eight. I was excited to get to sleep in today and awoke to a beautiful sunny morning. I have been thinking a lot about how God wants us to use the gifts he gave us. Running is something that I have been doing for a long time, it's something that I think I do rather selfishly because it makes me feel good, give me some alone time, and overall I think helps me and my life in general. I've also ran a few marathons and today made a calculated decision to turn my passion into action. I decided to use my next race as a way to raise money to support childhood tumor research. Since I was going to run anyway, why not use my skills to raise money for those who can't run...this is the right direction right? While I'm still searching for my overall purpose, why not use my skills to do good.
Key Points:
You were planned for God's pleasure
You exist for his benefit, his glory, his purpose, and his delight
You are a child of God and you bring pleasure to God like nothing else he has ever created.
God has emotions too and bringing pleasure to God is called worship
Worship is not for your benefit
Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise glory and pleasure of god
Do everything as if you were doing it for Jesus
For the lord and not for men
Real worship is all about falling in love with Jesus
Work becomes worship when you dedicate it to God and perform it with an awareness of his presence
Verse: " The Lord takes pleasure in his people." Psalm 149:4a
I'm not sure that I ever realized that worship was not for my benefit...it's not about me...life changing isn't it? So the purpose of worship is to bring pleasure to God..it kinda changes the way we look at praise. I also never really looked at everything I did as an act of worship...I really only thought about church or prayer or mission work...but not everyday activities like sleeping eating or school. So my purpose is worship God in all I do...
Falling in love with Jesus is a whole new experience for me. I had the opportunity to go to a Wesley meeting with Payton tonight and got to be in the presence of believers and of God. In a time of prayer and singing/dancing freely the words of this song that I remembered singing in youth group or maybe at camp came to mind.
Holiness (Holiness) is what I long for
Holiness (Holiness) is what I need
Holiness (Holiness) is what You want for me
Righteousness (Righteousness) is what I long for
Righteousness (Righteousness) is what I need (That's what I need)
Righteousness (Righteousness) is what You want for me
Take my Heart and mold it
Take my mind, transform it
Take my will, comform it
To Yours (to Yours) oh, Lord
Broken ness (Broken ness) is what I long for
Broken ness (Broken ness) is what I need (got to be broken)
Broken ness (Broken ness) is what You want for me (for me,)
Take my Heart and mold it
Take my mind, transform it
Take my will, comform it
To Yours (to Yours) oh, Lord
Yes...exactly...this is what I want to be molded, transformed, and conformed to the likes of the lord.
Key Points:
You were planned for God's pleasure
You exist for his benefit, his glory, his purpose, and his delight
You are a child of God and you bring pleasure to God like nothing else he has ever created.
God has emotions too and bringing pleasure to God is called worship
Worship is not for your benefit
Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise glory and pleasure of god
Do everything as if you were doing it for Jesus
For the lord and not for men
Real worship is all about falling in love with Jesus
Work becomes worship when you dedicate it to God and perform it with an awareness of his presence
Verse: " The Lord takes pleasure in his people." Psalm 149:4a
I'm not sure that I ever realized that worship was not for my benefit...it's not about me...life changing isn't it? So the purpose of worship is to bring pleasure to God..it kinda changes the way we look at praise. I also never really looked at everything I did as an act of worship...I really only thought about church or prayer or mission work...but not everyday activities like sleeping eating or school. So my purpose is worship God in all I do...
Falling in love with Jesus is a whole new experience for me. I had the opportunity to go to a Wesley meeting with Payton tonight and got to be in the presence of believers and of God. In a time of prayer and singing/dancing freely the words of this song that I remembered singing in youth group or maybe at camp came to mind.
Holiness (Holiness) is what I long for
Holiness (Holiness) is what I need
Holiness (Holiness) is what You want for me
Righteousness (Righteousness) is what I long for
Righteousness (Righteousness) is what I need (That's what I need)
Righteousness (Righteousness) is what You want for me
Take my Heart and mold it
Take my mind, transform it
Take my will, comform it
To Yours (to Yours) oh, Lord
Broken ness (Broken ness) is what I long for
Broken ness (Broken ness) is what I need (got to be broken)
Broken ness (Broken ness) is what You want for me (for me,)
Take my Heart and mold it
Take my mind, transform it
Take my will, comform it
To Yours (to Yours) oh, Lord
Yes...exactly...this is what I want to be molded, transformed, and conformed to the likes of the lord.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Day Seven: " The Reason for Everything"
Key Points:
The goal of the universe is to show the glory of God.
Living for God's glory is the greatest achievement we can accomplish with our lives.
God's glory is best seen in Jesus Christ
When anything in creation fulfills its purpose, it brings glory to God. We bring glory to God by worshiping him, by loving others, by becoming like Christ, by serving others with our gifts, and by telling others about him.
Living the rest of your life for the glory of God will require a change in your priorities, schedule, relationships, and everything else. It will sometimes mean choosing the difficult path instead of the easy one.
Verse: " For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power and everything is for his glory.: Romans 11:36
I think that the main point that can be found in this reading is that to glorify God you must change the way you live your life. I'm realizing that more and more, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't have fun just that what you do needs to glorify God. I think though that I will see that when I engage in activities that are praising God and fulfilling his purpose for me that it will be the most fun, more fun than anything else I have previously thought. I'm trying hard to surround myself with believers and find a support group within my community to aid in my growth. I'm also working on bettering myself in looking as well as I can and acting as nicely as possible. I would like to present myself as someone who is put together and happy. I find that when I make and effort to better everyone but myself in being the best I can be, that I feel at peace with myself. It's been seven days, a whole week since I started this journey and I do feel a difference, I'm understanding that living for the glory of God is so different than living for the glory from others or the glory from things. It's like when you look at the big picture..the small things don't matter. It's the love, the relationships, it's how you made a difference in the lives of others. I have made some mistakes..failed many tests but I am at a turning point in my life...this is when it all changes...when I start living and working for something that is bigger than myself. So the point is not to become a success...the point is to become yourself..to fulfill the purpose set before and enjoy the process of becoming who God intended you to be. Is that right? I'm still searching for my purpose...I know that my overall purpose it to praise God and give him glory in all I do...but what am I going to do? Where is my calling? I WANT A SIGN...I WANT CALLING...you know that out the the park homerun excited feeling...I want to feel that about something. I want to get up everyday and say today...today I will change the world..or atleast somebody's world. I want to know that what I do matters... I want to do something important...I'm praying about it..and being open to God's will. I just haven't found it yet...
The goal of the universe is to show the glory of God.
Living for God's glory is the greatest achievement we can accomplish with our lives.
God's glory is best seen in Jesus Christ
When anything in creation fulfills its purpose, it brings glory to God. We bring glory to God by worshiping him, by loving others, by becoming like Christ, by serving others with our gifts, and by telling others about him.
Living the rest of your life for the glory of God will require a change in your priorities, schedule, relationships, and everything else. It will sometimes mean choosing the difficult path instead of the easy one.
Verse: " For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power and everything is for his glory.: Romans 11:36
I think that the main point that can be found in this reading is that to glorify God you must change the way you live your life. I'm realizing that more and more, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't have fun just that what you do needs to glorify God. I think though that I will see that when I engage in activities that are praising God and fulfilling his purpose for me that it will be the most fun, more fun than anything else I have previously thought. I'm trying hard to surround myself with believers and find a support group within my community to aid in my growth. I'm also working on bettering myself in looking as well as I can and acting as nicely as possible. I would like to present myself as someone who is put together and happy. I find that when I make and effort to better everyone but myself in being the best I can be, that I feel at peace with myself. It's been seven days, a whole week since I started this journey and I do feel a difference, I'm understanding that living for the glory of God is so different than living for the glory from others or the glory from things. It's like when you look at the big picture..the small things don't matter. It's the love, the relationships, it's how you made a difference in the lives of others. I have made some mistakes..failed many tests but I am at a turning point in my life...this is when it all changes...when I start living and working for something that is bigger than myself. So the point is not to become a success...the point is to become yourself..to fulfill the purpose set before and enjoy the process of becoming who God intended you to be. Is that right? I'm still searching for my purpose...I know that my overall purpose it to praise God and give him glory in all I do...but what am I going to do? Where is my calling? I WANT A SIGN...I WANT CALLING...you know that out the the park homerun excited feeling...I want to feel that about something. I want to get up everyday and say today...today I will change the world..or atleast somebody's world. I want to know that what I do matters... I want to do something important...I'm praying about it..and being open to God's will. I just haven't found it yet...
Day Six: "Life is a Temporary Assignment"
Key Points:
Life on earth is a temporary assignment.
To make the best use of your life you must remember two truths 1. compared with eternity, life is extremely brief 2. earth is only a temporary residence. You won't be here long so don't get too attached.
Your identity is in eternity and your homeland is in heaven.
It's easy to forget the pursuit of happiness is not what life is all about.We are preparing for something even better
The fact that 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
verse: " So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal. " 2 Corinthians 4:18
I did not have much time to blog yesterday the semester has officially started and with is brought an internship, a new research assignment and an unexpected snow storm. I did have time to reflect on what I read and could definitely feel as though as God was giving me a test today! I could curse the snow or embrace it and feel blessed for the warm clothes and boots I have to wear to class. Its all in how you look at it! I was blessed to have the company of a certain someone over the past twenty four hours and very much enjoyed his company. I know for certain that God has put him in my life for a reason, he has motivated me to be so much strong in relationship with God and much for faithful in my walk with Christ. He carries himself with a kind of blind faith that is unparalleled. He is so at ease that God is in control of his life. I'm still working on that. One thing I did gain from yesterdays reading was the fact that life is a trust. It makes you look at the world a lot differently when you think about everything in it as God's and not yours. Nothing is mine because it is only through God that is has been rewarded...interesting thought isn't it? In regards to life being a test, I feel as though I have failed many of the tests I have been given in the past. I spend so much for time worried about what will make others accept me and care little about what God thinks. But I also think that I have been given a second chance, a re-take if you will. I heard this song on the way home from a friends tonight and it spoke directly to me.
"Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan Only wants what you will do instead Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come You starve yourself to play the part But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do So there could never be a more beautiful you
So turn around you're not too far To back away be who you are To change your path go another way It's not too late you can be saved If you feel depressed with past regrets The shameful nights hope to forget Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth"
Makes you think doesn't it? It's not to late to change everything.
As far as todays reading goes..or yesterdays because it's already past midnight, I'm not sure I ever viewed life as temporary assignment or as a preparation for something bigger. To me eternity has kind of been viewed as what happens when this life is over..after you have lived an accomplished..kinda like retirement. But thats not it...it's the other way around. This is a warm up, whats to come is the important. The discussion question asks how I should change the way I'm living right now since life is a temporary assignment...and I think that it all boils down to the very purpose of why I'm embarking on this journey. I should stop living to do things that make me successful, famous, or happy and strive to find God's purpose in my life. I want to do something important, I want to change someones life...I want to glorify God in all I do...that being said...I've got a lot of changing to do!
Life on earth is a temporary assignment.
To make the best use of your life you must remember two truths 1. compared with eternity, life is extremely brief 2. earth is only a temporary residence. You won't be here long so don't get too attached.
Your identity is in eternity and your homeland is in heaven.
It's easy to forget the pursuit of happiness is not what life is all about.We are preparing for something even better
The fact that 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
verse: " So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal. " 2 Corinthians 4:18
I did not have much time to blog yesterday the semester has officially started and with is brought an internship, a new research assignment and an unexpected snow storm. I did have time to reflect on what I read and could definitely feel as though as God was giving me a test today! I could curse the snow or embrace it and feel blessed for the warm clothes and boots I have to wear to class. Its all in how you look at it! I was blessed to have the company of a certain someone over the past twenty four hours and very much enjoyed his company. I know for certain that God has put him in my life for a reason, he has motivated me to be so much strong in relationship with God and much for faithful in my walk with Christ. He carries himself with a kind of blind faith that is unparalleled. He is so at ease that God is in control of his life. I'm still working on that. One thing I did gain from yesterdays reading was the fact that life is a trust. It makes you look at the world a lot differently when you think about everything in it as God's and not yours. Nothing is mine because it is only through God that is has been rewarded...interesting thought isn't it? In regards to life being a test, I feel as though I have failed many of the tests I have been given in the past. I spend so much for time worried about what will make others accept me and care little about what God thinks. But I also think that I have been given a second chance, a re-take if you will. I heard this song on the way home from a friends tonight and it spoke directly to me.
"Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan Only wants what you will do instead Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come You starve yourself to play the part But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do So there could never be a more beautiful you
So turn around you're not too far To back away be who you are To change your path go another way It's not too late you can be saved If you feel depressed with past regrets The shameful nights hope to forget Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth"
Makes you think doesn't it? It's not to late to change everything.
As far as todays reading goes..or yesterdays because it's already past midnight, I'm not sure I ever viewed life as temporary assignment or as a preparation for something bigger. To me eternity has kind of been viewed as what happens when this life is over..after you have lived an accomplished..kinda like retirement. But thats not it...it's the other way around. This is a warm up, whats to come is the important. The discussion question asks how I should change the way I'm living right now since life is a temporary assignment...and I think that it all boils down to the very purpose of why I'm embarking on this journey. I should stop living to do things that make me successful, famous, or happy and strive to find God's purpose in my life. I want to do something important, I want to change someones life...I want to glorify God in all I do...that being said...I've got a lot of changing to do!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Day Five : " Seeing Life from God's View
Key Points:
The way you see your life shapes your life
To fulfill the purposes God made you for you will have to challenge conventional wisdom and replace it with the biblical metaphors of life: life is a test, life is a trust, life is a temporary assignment
God tests peoples character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty and you are always being tested.
Nothing is insignificant in your life.
Life is a trust and we are stewards of whatever god gives us. the more god gives you, the more responsible he expects you to be.
Verses:
"unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones" Luke 16:10
"God keeps his promise and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm. at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it and so provide you with a way out." 1 Corinthians 10:13
"what do you have that God hasn't gievn you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?" Psalm 33:11
The way you see your life shapes your life
To fulfill the purposes God made you for you will have to challenge conventional wisdom and replace it with the biblical metaphors of life: life is a test, life is a trust, life is a temporary assignment
God tests peoples character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty and you are always being tested.
Nothing is insignificant in your life.
Life is a trust and we are stewards of whatever god gives us. the more god gives you, the more responsible he expects you to be.
Verses:
"unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones" Luke 16:10
"God keeps his promise and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm. at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it and so provide you with a way out." 1 Corinthians 10:13
"what do you have that God hasn't gievn you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?" Psalm 33:11
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Day Four " Made to Last Forever"
Key Points:
This life is not all there is.
eternity offers only two choices; heaven or hell
The closer you live to God, the smaller everything appears
This life is preparation for the next
There are eternal consequences for everything you do
only a fool would go through life unprepared for what we all know will eventually happen
If you have a relationship with god through Jesus, you don't need to fear death
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
Eternity is an interesting topic. It is both terrifying and exciting. I think the main reason it is so scary is because I am unable to comprehend what eternity is or what it will be like. The unknown is scary...coming from a person who doesn't transition well I like to know exactly whats going to happen. The other thing that is scary about the thought of eternity is the irrational fear that somehow I have messed up and won't go to heaven. I know this sounds crazy...because I have come to know Jesus as my lord and savior but still...it's scary. On the other hand, it is exciting and I can only have faith that everything will be resolved in heaven. In regards to the discussion question, What is one thing I should stop doing and what is one thing I should start doing? I think the main thing that I need to do stop doing is worrying. Worrying is a wasted energy. I need to focus on the fact that everything that happens IF I am living God's will and purpose is planned and that this too shall pass in time...so this life is very short and the next life is very very long. It kind of makes you realize that you big worries and problems are actually small ones. The one thing I need to start doing today is to focus on the important things, loving god and loving people. I want to start making God the reference point and reason my activities. To give glory to God in all I do. Loving people is also a huge one. No more judgment and no more petty gossip. A quote on my wall says be nice to everyone because everybody is wrestling with their own personal giants. I want to do that...love like I want to be loved...treat like I want to be treated to everyone, not just family and friends!
This life is not all there is.
eternity offers only two choices; heaven or hell
The closer you live to God, the smaller everything appears
This life is preparation for the next
There are eternal consequences for everything you do
only a fool would go through life unprepared for what we all know will eventually happen
If you have a relationship with god through Jesus, you don't need to fear death
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
Eternity is an interesting topic. It is both terrifying and exciting. I think the main reason it is so scary is because I am unable to comprehend what eternity is or what it will be like. The unknown is scary...coming from a person who doesn't transition well I like to know exactly whats going to happen. The other thing that is scary about the thought of eternity is the irrational fear that somehow I have messed up and won't go to heaven. I know this sounds crazy...because I have come to know Jesus as my lord and savior but still...it's scary. On the other hand, it is exciting and I can only have faith that everything will be resolved in heaven. In regards to the discussion question, What is one thing I should stop doing and what is one thing I should start doing? I think the main thing that I need to do stop doing is worrying. Worrying is a wasted energy. I need to focus on the fact that everything that happens IF I am living God's will and purpose is planned and that this too shall pass in time...so this life is very short and the next life is very very long. It kind of makes you realize that you big worries and problems are actually small ones. The one thing I need to start doing today is to focus on the important things, loving god and loving people. I want to start making God the reference point and reason my activities. To give glory to God in all I do. Loving people is also a huge one. No more judgment and no more petty gossip. A quote on my wall says be nice to everyone because everybody is wrestling with their own personal giants. I want to do that...love like I want to be loved...treat like I want to be treated to everyone, not just family and friends!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Day Three " What Drives Your Life? "
Key Points:
Many people are driven by guilt, resentment/anger, materialism, fear, the need for approval.
Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life, simplifies your life, motivates your life, prepares you for eternity.
Verses: " you Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you" Isaiah 26:3
" I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead" Philippians 3:13
There is something so oddly liberating about writing this blog. It feels so much more power than journaling. Something about sending my inner most thoughts and questions into the cosmic void. I'm not looking for readership, approval, or praise...but the thought of just knowing my words are "out there" is powerful enough. I'm picturing myself somewhere between "You've got Mail" and "Julie and Julia" but nevertheless that is neither here nor there...just something that I've been thinking.
This chapter gets to the very essence on why I'm embarking on the journey..what drives my life? ah I have no idea. My mother loves to brag about how "driven" I am. Sure I did graduate college in 3 years, while holding a job, and was the youngest person accepted into my masters program. I train for and run marathons completing a distance that most wouldn't even think about attempting and I do it for fun. In her mind this is being driven. But driven by what...for what? In reading the reasons that many people are driven I was able to focus my attention on two of them, the need for approval and fear. For me both of these pretty much go together. I am a people pleaser and I people please myself into impossible situations. I just want to be successful...to look someone in the eyes and say " I'm a..." and feel empowered about it. I want to be accepted. Fear comes into play because I am terrified of failure. Terrified of living an unsuccessful life? Ah..that may be it but I would venture to say that I'm more afraid of not being accepted, not being valued, not being looked upon with praise than the latter. It's not about money...I really don't think it is. I didn't grow up with money and to me my mom is the most successful person I know. though she would argue this. Everyday she makes a difference in the lives of so many families...and I read books, write papers, and better no one by myself. I WANT A PURPOSE!! I WANT PASSION!! I WANT A DIRECTION! I view my current self as the classic definition of a mess...spinning the wheels at 90 miles an hour and getting nowhere...why? because I have no clue where I'm going. This chapter says that without a clear purpose you will keep changing directions hoping that change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart but your real problem is a lack of focus and purpose. Exactly...this is exactly how I act. Lets review shall we? I moved for high school because I was unhappy and of course moving was going to solve the problem..fail, I'm at my third school in 4 years, the real motivating reason behind my three year graduation adventure was because in my mind once I moved here I would be happy...ah not exactly, why have I submitted 8 million summer internship applications...because maybe a job will give me a direction or some sense of what I'm going to do and don't even get me started on how I have handled my relationships this year. It was like I was was writing this chapter " I feel like a failure because I'm struggling to become something and I don't even know what it is"...Exactly!!!!
So what did I get out this chapter...umm I realized even more that I need a purpose and a focused life. To live each day as if it was on purpose...didn't someone say that in a movie? I guess what it all boils down to is that to find my purpose I must also find God. In growing in my relationship with him I can find my purpose.
I'm re-learning how to pray and it was both an empowering and a terrifying experience. I am no longer praying for specific things but instead praying that God's will be done in my life. Instead of praying for a specific internship, I am praying for my summer to filled with an enriching experience that will help fulfill God's purpose for me. Instead of praying for a specific relationship to work out, I am praying for the husband I know God has planned for me. It's a scary leap of faith but it's all in God's hands, I will ask, seek, knock...and then go where he calls me too regardless of weather or not it is what I had in mind...
Many people are driven by guilt, resentment/anger, materialism, fear, the need for approval.
Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life, simplifies your life, motivates your life, prepares you for eternity.
Verses: " you Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you" Isaiah 26:3
" I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead" Philippians 3:13
There is something so oddly liberating about writing this blog. It feels so much more power than journaling. Something about sending my inner most thoughts and questions into the cosmic void. I'm not looking for readership, approval, or praise...but the thought of just knowing my words are "out there" is powerful enough. I'm picturing myself somewhere between "You've got Mail" and "Julie and Julia" but nevertheless that is neither here nor there...just something that I've been thinking.
This chapter gets to the very essence on why I'm embarking on the journey..what drives my life? ah I have no idea. My mother loves to brag about how "driven" I am. Sure I did graduate college in 3 years, while holding a job, and was the youngest person accepted into my masters program. I train for and run marathons completing a distance that most wouldn't even think about attempting and I do it for fun. In her mind this is being driven. But driven by what...for what? In reading the reasons that many people are driven I was able to focus my attention on two of them, the need for approval and fear. For me both of these pretty much go together. I am a people pleaser and I people please myself into impossible situations. I just want to be successful...to look someone in the eyes and say " I'm a..." and feel empowered about it. I want to be accepted. Fear comes into play because I am terrified of failure. Terrified of living an unsuccessful life? Ah..that may be it but I would venture to say that I'm more afraid of not being accepted, not being valued, not being looked upon with praise than the latter. It's not about money...I really don't think it is. I didn't grow up with money and to me my mom is the most successful person I know. though she would argue this. Everyday she makes a difference in the lives of so many families...and I read books, write papers, and better no one by myself. I WANT A PURPOSE!! I WANT PASSION!! I WANT A DIRECTION! I view my current self as the classic definition of a mess...spinning the wheels at 90 miles an hour and getting nowhere...why? because I have no clue where I'm going. This chapter says that without a clear purpose you will keep changing directions hoping that change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart but your real problem is a lack of focus and purpose. Exactly...this is exactly how I act. Lets review shall we? I moved for high school because I was unhappy and of course moving was going to solve the problem..fail, I'm at my third school in 4 years, the real motivating reason behind my three year graduation adventure was because in my mind once I moved here I would be happy...ah not exactly, why have I submitted 8 million summer internship applications...because maybe a job will give me a direction or some sense of what I'm going to do and don't even get me started on how I have handled my relationships this year. It was like I was was writing this chapter " I feel like a failure because I'm struggling to become something and I don't even know what it is"...Exactly!!!!
So what did I get out this chapter...umm I realized even more that I need a purpose and a focused life. To live each day as if it was on purpose...didn't someone say that in a movie? I guess what it all boils down to is that to find my purpose I must also find God. In growing in my relationship with him I can find my purpose.
I'm re-learning how to pray and it was both an empowering and a terrifying experience. I am no longer praying for specific things but instead praying that God's will be done in my life. Instead of praying for a specific internship, I am praying for my summer to filled with an enriching experience that will help fulfill God's purpose for me. Instead of praying for a specific relationship to work out, I am praying for the husband I know God has planned for me. It's a scary leap of faith but it's all in God's hands, I will ask, seek, knock...and then go where he calls me too regardless of weather or not it is what I had in mind...
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Day Two: " You Are Not an Accident
Key Points:
You are alive because God wanted to create you and he custom made your body just the way he wanted it.
God left no detail to chance, he planned it all for his purpose.
God never does anything accidentally and he never makes mistakes. He has a reason for everything he creates.
God's motive for creating you was his love
Why? Because God is love
There is a God who made you for a reason and your life has profound meaning, we discover that meaning and purpose only when we make God the reference point of our lives.
Verse: " I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born. " Isaiah 44:2
I find it a funny coincidence that as I am reading this section in the book the song playing on my computer is quoting "one answer,more questions" While I have plenty of questions, it becomes clearer and clearer that there really is only one answer and the answer is God and God's plan. In all things, I believe that we are suppose to find peace in knowing that if we are truly following God then the answer to all our questions is God. Funny right? But then again I did read some where that coincidences are really "god things". I had the absolute privilege of going to a service at Athens Church this morning, a church as I found out was committed to helping people grow in a personal relationship with Christ. Its one of the more popular church's in the area and it's welcoming environment made me feel right at home. Weekly attendance and perhaps involved in a small group is another part of my resolution because I know that this is not something that I can do alone. Excitingly enough the service, as i suspect it was suppose to do, felt very much directed at me. What does it mean to be a Christian? ah ha! I was wondering that! In the end we spent time on a passage in Matthew that I did in fact remember from previous bible study. To sum it up, love God and love people, that is what it means to be a Christian. Good in theory, hard is practice...but I'm working on it.
Two very interesting points stuck out to me as I read this chapter in the book. First God is love...I never really looked at it that way. So basically what I think this means is that to love one another and to truly be in love with someone else we must first know God. Because if God is love than true love cannot be found without him. This leads to be view my wants and needs in a relationship in a WHOLE new way that I don't think I ever have before. It has always been important to me that the men I date be "Christians" but finding a man who loves God is entirely different. As I grow in a relationship with a man I also want to grow together in a relationship with Christ. WOW! Secondly the concept of making God the reference point in our lives as the path to discovering our purpose immediately took me back to a horrifying moment in my dreaded economic theory class from last semester. Prospect theory...risk tolerance from the reference point of a loss or a gain. The reference point used by the investor shapes their behavior, when viewing a situation from a flawed reference point investors make irrational and often harmful financial decisions. I can see the connections...when we asses our actions decisions etc from a reference point other than God the outcome is wrong. But with God as a reference point for our lives we are able to make correct decisions and find out purpose! I take it back Dr. Getz, I was able to apply this theory outside of class. Congratulations you were right!
While I am not exactly sure the revaluations that I came too while reading this chapter were what the author was intending, they are revaluations all the same. To address the discussion question, " what areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?" I'm not sure...most days I feel pretty and confident in the abilities God has granted me but I do let my mind wonder to the what if's. What if's are dangerous things...what if I had gone to a different college? What if I had been a better runner? What if I had stayed a nursing major? Would things be better? It's pretty easy for me to what if myself to mental exhaustion that leaves me defeated. Recently that I read that God is no concerned with the past but only with the future and the poem in the closing remarks states " No, the 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. No more what if's..only what will be...
You are alive because God wanted to create you and he custom made your body just the way he wanted it.
God left no detail to chance, he planned it all for his purpose.
God never does anything accidentally and he never makes mistakes. He has a reason for everything he creates.
God's motive for creating you was his love
Why? Because God is love
There is a God who made you for a reason and your life has profound meaning, we discover that meaning and purpose only when we make God the reference point of our lives.
Verse: " I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born. " Isaiah 44:2
I find it a funny coincidence that as I am reading this section in the book the song playing on my computer is quoting "one answer,more questions" While I have plenty of questions, it becomes clearer and clearer that there really is only one answer and the answer is God and God's plan. In all things, I believe that we are suppose to find peace in knowing that if we are truly following God then the answer to all our questions is God. Funny right? But then again I did read some where that coincidences are really "god things". I had the absolute privilege of going to a service at Athens Church this morning, a church as I found out was committed to helping people grow in a personal relationship with Christ. Its one of the more popular church's in the area and it's welcoming environment made me feel right at home. Weekly attendance and perhaps involved in a small group is another part of my resolution because I know that this is not something that I can do alone. Excitingly enough the service, as i suspect it was suppose to do, felt very much directed at me. What does it mean to be a Christian? ah ha! I was wondering that! In the end we spent time on a passage in Matthew that I did in fact remember from previous bible study. To sum it up, love God and love people, that is what it means to be a Christian. Good in theory, hard is practice...but I'm working on it.
Two very interesting points stuck out to me as I read this chapter in the book. First God is love...I never really looked at it that way. So basically what I think this means is that to love one another and to truly be in love with someone else we must first know God. Because if God is love than true love cannot be found without him. This leads to be view my wants and needs in a relationship in a WHOLE new way that I don't think I ever have before. It has always been important to me that the men I date be "Christians" but finding a man who loves God is entirely different. As I grow in a relationship with a man I also want to grow together in a relationship with Christ. WOW! Secondly the concept of making God the reference point in our lives as the path to discovering our purpose immediately took me back to a horrifying moment in my dreaded economic theory class from last semester. Prospect theory...risk tolerance from the reference point of a loss or a gain. The reference point used by the investor shapes their behavior, when viewing a situation from a flawed reference point investors make irrational and often harmful financial decisions. I can see the connections...when we asses our actions decisions etc from a reference point other than God the outcome is wrong. But with God as a reference point for our lives we are able to make correct decisions and find out purpose! I take it back Dr. Getz, I was able to apply this theory outside of class. Congratulations you were right!
While I am not exactly sure the revaluations that I came too while reading this chapter were what the author was intending, they are revaluations all the same. To address the discussion question, " what areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?" I'm not sure...most days I feel pretty and confident in the abilities God has granted me but I do let my mind wonder to the what if's. What if's are dangerous things...what if I had gone to a different college? What if I had been a better runner? What if I had stayed a nursing major? Would things be better? It's pretty easy for me to what if myself to mental exhaustion that leaves me defeated. Recently that I read that God is no concerned with the past but only with the future and the poem in the closing remarks states " No, the 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. No more what if's..only what will be...
Day One " It All Starts With God"
Key Points:
You were born by his purpose and for his purpose
Focusing on ourselves will never reveal out life's purpose
You won't discover your life's meaning by looking within yourself
Life is about letting God use you for his purpose
Speculation vs Revaluation = Guessing vs asking(seeking)
Without God life makes no sense
Verse: "everything got started in him and finds it's purpose in him" Colossians 1:16b
The first chapter was only a few pages and I am struggling not read on, but I know that good things and growth take time and to really make this meaningful it will require my patience and dedication. In reading the introduction I began to ponder how exactly it is that I got to where I am right now. I didn't always use to be this lost. I don't think I am exactly a bad person now by any means but I am certainly a person who is living without prayerfully considering God. I didn't grow up in church, in fact I didn't learn about the true meaning of God and salvation until I was at summer camp in the 5th grade." Into my heart, come into my heart lord Jesus" was the prayer they taught us. After that I started attending church with friends and became active in the youth group, joined the youth choir, and even went on several mission trips. I also went on to work a camp and was constantly reminded to "teach the person and character of Jesus Christ. But I think somewhere along the way the relationship with god got lost and the longing to be "cool" took it's place. Church became much more of a social activity...meeting boys and the likes. Camp became about being accepted instead of teaching and then both went away all together, replaced by sports, college, boyfriends, and academic/professional success. Sure, I still believe in God, know that I saved and pray. But I have not been living my life for him, for his purpose...in fact his purpose has been completely left out of my decision making. Why am I am economics major? Because I am good at it and I enjoy it. Why am I in graduate school? Because I wanted to move to Athens. Why did I want to move to Athens? For a boy and life that clearly had nothing to do with the purpose or will of God. What do I want to do with my life? I have no idea. It did not always use to be this way. It seems I had it right in the beginning, funny how we spent all our time searching for something just to realize that it was there all along. All the questions and their answers need to change. What is my purpose? While I still have no idea at least now I have some direction of where to look, in God. My purpose is the one that he created for me. It is only now through prayerful consideration that I will find it.
You were born by his purpose and for his purpose
Focusing on ourselves will never reveal out life's purpose
You won't discover your life's meaning by looking within yourself
Life is about letting God use you for his purpose
Speculation vs Revaluation = Guessing vs asking(seeking)
Without God life makes no sense
Verse: "everything got started in him and finds it's purpose in him" Colossians 1:16b
The first chapter was only a few pages and I am struggling not read on, but I know that good things and growth take time and to really make this meaningful it will require my patience and dedication. In reading the introduction I began to ponder how exactly it is that I got to where I am right now. I didn't always use to be this lost. I don't think I am exactly a bad person now by any means but I am certainly a person who is living without prayerfully considering God. I didn't grow up in church, in fact I didn't learn about the true meaning of God and salvation until I was at summer camp in the 5th grade." Into my heart, come into my heart lord Jesus" was the prayer they taught us. After that I started attending church with friends and became active in the youth group, joined the youth choir, and even went on several mission trips. I also went on to work a camp and was constantly reminded to "teach the person and character of Jesus Christ. But I think somewhere along the way the relationship with god got lost and the longing to be "cool" took it's place. Church became much more of a social activity...meeting boys and the likes. Camp became about being accepted instead of teaching and then both went away all together, replaced by sports, college, boyfriends, and academic/professional success. Sure, I still believe in God, know that I saved and pray. But I have not been living my life for him, for his purpose...in fact his purpose has been completely left out of my decision making. Why am I am economics major? Because I am good at it and I enjoy it. Why am I in graduate school? Because I wanted to move to Athens. Why did I want to move to Athens? For a boy and life that clearly had nothing to do with the purpose or will of God. What do I want to do with my life? I have no idea. It did not always use to be this way. It seems I had it right in the beginning, funny how we spent all our time searching for something just to realize that it was there all along. All the questions and their answers need to change. What is my purpose? While I still have no idea at least now I have some direction of where to look, in God. My purpose is the one that he created for me. It is only now through prayerful consideration that I will find it.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
New Year, New Me, "New" Purpose
In accordance with tradition, I am among many who are setting new years resolutions. Some will be trying to lose weight and some will be trying to get a better job, ever seeking that perfect body, perfect life, perfect happiness. I have tried and failed at setting and keeping resolutions in the past and often find myself at odds with what exactly my purpose is. A friend recently asked me "what defines you" during a late night conversation. I struggled with the answer, I am runner, a student, a lover of travel...but I couldn't think of an all encompassing thing that I could say defined my life. After careful examination, I believe that the right answer is and should have been Christianity. I once lived on the motto from a camp I hold dear and firmly believed that I was here to teach the person and character of Jesus Christ. But somehow in the hustle and bustle of everyday life I have managed to lose the faith and the beliefs I held so firmly too. I have been searching for a purpose, searching for something to be passionate about but have been going about it all wrong, seeking in terms of "what do I want to do with my life", "what do I want to be", "what will make me happy". I'm not exactly sure why seeking a deeper and more intimate relationship with god did not occur me before now but to that all I can say that is for every time there is a season. So here I am, making a new years resolution that I hope to not only keep for this year but for a life time. 40 days for the rest of my life.
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