Love cannot be learned in isolation. You have to be around people - irritating, imperfect, frustrating people.
Worship isn't practiced for what YOU can get out of it; it's practiced for the honour and glory of God!
IF SOMEONE HURTS YOU REPEATEDLY, GOD COMMANDS YOU FORGIVE THEN INSTANTLY. YOU ARE NOT EXPECTED TO TRUST THEM IMMEDIATELY AND YOU DEFINITELY ARE NOT EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ALLOWING THEM TO HURT YOU.
We all have quirks and annoying traits. But community has nothing to do with compatibility. Real community happens when people know it is safe to share their doubts and fears without being judged.
Whenever I judge another believer I loose fellowship with God, I expose my own pride and insecurity, I set myself up to be judged by God and I harm the fellowship of the church. That’s the devil’s job – anytime we do the same, we’re being duped into doing Satan’s work for him.
IT IS A SACRIFICE TO PATIENTLY ABSORB THE ANGER OF OTHERS, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S UNFOUNDED.
You are a work in progress and your spiritual transformation will take the rest of your life here on earth; and even then it won’t be complete.
Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit.
The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives – IT IS THE LIVING WORD!
Romans 8:28-29 ~ “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them”.
Notice that God tells us to give thanks ‘IN all circumstances’ and not ‘FOR all circumstances’. (God doesn’t expect us to be thankful for the bad, for the abnormal, for the hurtful, for evil, for sin, for suffering, or for their painful consequences in the world.)
Temptation always starts in your mind, not in your circumstances.
Remember that God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. He will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for your role in eternity.
You are the way you are because you were made for a specific ministry. You are God’s handcrafted work of art – custom-designed, one-of-a-kind, original masterpiece.
THE VERY EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HAVE RESENTED OR REGRETTED MOST IN LIFE (ONE’S YOU WANT TO HIDE OR FORGET) ARE THE EXPERIENCES THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO USE TO HELP OTHERS – THEY ARE YOUR MINISTRY – TO USE THEM YOU MUST BE WILLING TO SHARE THEM.
Be wary of serving or teaching or giving generously out of maturity rather than because it is your spiritual gift.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can” – John Wesley
Do little things as if they were great things – God is watching us…
Living for your ministry and living for money are mutually exclusive goals. Money and materialism has the greatest potential to replace GOD in your life.
You can impress people from a distance, but you must get close to influence them – the most essential quality for leadership is not perfection, but credibility.
It is easy to get distracted and sidelined from your mission because Satan would rather have you do anything besides sharing your faith – even all kinds of good things as long as you don’t take anyone to Heaven with you.
AS LONG AS YOU KNOW EVEN ONE PERSON WHO DOESN’T KNOW CHRIST, YOU MUST KEEP PRAYING FOR THEM, SERVING THEM IN LOVE, AND SHARING THE GOOD NEWS WITH THEM.
We have no excuse not to spread the Good News. With Internet access we can personally communicate with people in virtually every country on earth. It has never been easier in history to fulfill your commission to go to the whole world.
THE ULTIMATE DEFINITION OF A LIFE WELL LIVED WOULD PROVE TO BE: DOING THE ETERNAL AND TIMELESS (GOD’S PURPOSES) IN A CONTEMPORARY AND TIMELY WAY (IN YOUR GENERATION). – THAT IS WHAT THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.
Start living on purpose today… Love you all ~ SB
Showing posts with label Purpose Driven Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purpose Driven Life. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Day 40 – Living with Purpose
Living on purpose is the only way to really live – everything else is just existing!
People struggle with basic issues in life (such as):
IDENTITY – ‘Who am I?’
IMPORTANCE – ‘Do I matter?’
IMPACT – ‘What is my place in life?’
The answers are in God’s purposes for our lives…
As we come to the end of this forty day journey, God’s purposes for our life should now be evident – you will be blessed if you do them!
To prevent getting distracted and drifting off course, develop a PURPOSE STATEMENT for your life.
WHAT IS A LIFE PURPOSE STATEMENT?
It summarizes God’s purposes for your life.
It points the direction of your life
It defines ‘success’ for you
It clarifies your roles
It expresses your shape
Take time writing your statement; don’t aim for perfection at once, it’s a work in progress – just write down your thoughts as fast as they come to you.
Consider these questions as you prepare it:
+ What will be the centre of my life? – The question of worship.
You need an unshakable centre. Pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your heart. When God’s at the centre, you worship; when He’s not, you worry.
+ What will be the character of my life? – The question of discipleship.
Remember, you will take your character into eternity, not your career. Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching with spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness and generous love.
+ What will be the contribution of my life? – The question of service.
Fashion a combination out of your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality and experiences to establish your best role in the family of God. (Ministry)
You have to choose whom and how you can best help, based on your ‘shape’.
+ What will be the communication of my life? – The question of your mission.
Your mission should be aimed mainly at non-believers; it is the commitment to share your testimony and the Good News with others.
Our lives must support and validate the message we communicate - before unbelievers accept the Bible as credible they will need to know that we are credible – therefore be sure to live in a way that brings honour to the Good News of Christ.
+ What will be the community of my life? – The question of fellowship.
Where you genuinely practice with other believers and express your love for God’s church.
Now consider your answers to these questions.
Pray, think about it, talk with close friends and reflect on Scripture. What matters most is that it fulfills God’s eternal purposes regardless of where you live or work or whom you associate with.
{There exists a suggestion that you develop your life purpose statement based on what you would like other people to say about you at your funeral – your perfect eulogy – actually it’s a very bad plan… Our purpose is to please God, not people.}
Put Jesus at the centre of your life, develop His character, devote your life to serving others, communicate His message and fulfill His mission and love and participate in His family – following these tenets will almost certainly give you the basis for a phenomenal statement…
Our goal is to measure up to God’s plan for us.
The ultimate definition of a life well lived would prove to be: DOING THE ETERNAL AND TIMELESS (GOD’S PURPOSES) IN A CONTEMPORARY AND TIMELY WAY (IN YOUR GENERATION). – That is what the Purpose Driven Life is all about.
Only we can serve God’s purpose in this generation. God is constantly looking for people to use; it’s our job to assist Him.
One day history will come to an end, but eternity will go on forever. When fulfilling your purposes seems tough, don’t give in to discouragement. Remember your reward, which will last forever.
PRAISE HIM FOR HIS PLAN AND LIVE FOR HIS PURPOSES FOREVER!
Start living on purpose today… Love you all ~ SB
People struggle with basic issues in life (such as):
IDENTITY – ‘Who am I?’
IMPORTANCE – ‘Do I matter?’
IMPACT – ‘What is my place in life?’
The answers are in God’s purposes for our lives…
As we come to the end of this forty day journey, God’s purposes for our life should now be evident – you will be blessed if you do them!
To prevent getting distracted and drifting off course, develop a PURPOSE STATEMENT for your life.
WHAT IS A LIFE PURPOSE STATEMENT?
It summarizes God’s purposes for your life.
It points the direction of your life
It defines ‘success’ for you
It clarifies your roles
It expresses your shape
Take time writing your statement; don’t aim for perfection at once, it’s a work in progress – just write down your thoughts as fast as they come to you.
Consider these questions as you prepare it:
+ What will be the centre of my life? – The question of worship.
You need an unshakable centre. Pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your heart. When God’s at the centre, you worship; when He’s not, you worry.
+ What will be the character of my life? – The question of discipleship.
Remember, you will take your character into eternity, not your career. Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching with spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness and generous love.
+ What will be the contribution of my life? – The question of service.
Fashion a combination out of your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality and experiences to establish your best role in the family of God. (Ministry)
You have to choose whom and how you can best help, based on your ‘shape’.
+ What will be the communication of my life? – The question of your mission.
Your mission should be aimed mainly at non-believers; it is the commitment to share your testimony and the Good News with others.
Our lives must support and validate the message we communicate - before unbelievers accept the Bible as credible they will need to know that we are credible – therefore be sure to live in a way that brings honour to the Good News of Christ.
+ What will be the community of my life? – The question of fellowship.
Where you genuinely practice with other believers and express your love for God’s church.
Now consider your answers to these questions.
Pray, think about it, talk with close friends and reflect on Scripture. What matters most is that it fulfills God’s eternal purposes regardless of where you live or work or whom you associate with.
{There exists a suggestion that you develop your life purpose statement based on what you would like other people to say about you at your funeral – your perfect eulogy – actually it’s a very bad plan… Our purpose is to please God, not people.}
Put Jesus at the centre of your life, develop His character, devote your life to serving others, communicate His message and fulfill His mission and love and participate in His family – following these tenets will almost certainly give you the basis for a phenomenal statement…
Our goal is to measure up to God’s plan for us.
The ultimate definition of a life well lived would prove to be: DOING THE ETERNAL AND TIMELESS (GOD’S PURPOSES) IN A CONTEMPORARY AND TIMELY WAY (IN YOUR GENERATION). – That is what the Purpose Driven Life is all about.
Only we can serve God’s purpose in this generation. God is constantly looking for people to use; it’s our job to assist Him.
One day history will come to an end, but eternity will go on forever. When fulfilling your purposes seems tough, don’t give in to discouragement. Remember your reward, which will last forever.
PRAISE HIM FOR HIS PLAN AND LIVE FOR HIS PURPOSES FOREVER!
Start living on purpose today… Love you all ~ SB
Monday, May 23, 2011
Day 39 – Balancing your life
Blessed are the balanced; they shall outlast everyone.
Your life in Christ’s Body has purposes, which you must keep in balance. These purposes are summarized in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus:
A. Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
B. Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Main purposes in a nutshell:
Love God with all your heart – worship
Love your neighbour as you love yourself – ministry
Go make disciples – evangelism or e-vangelism
Baptize everyone – fellowship
Teach them the way – discipleship
We all tend to overemphasize the purposes we feel more passionate about and neglect the others. Keep your life balanced by:
(i) Joining a small group (“Where two or three are gathered…”)
(ii) Regularly evaluating your spiritual health
(iii) Recording your progress
(iv) Passing on what you learn
+ Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group.
We learn best in a sharing community. Our minds are sharpened and our convictions are deepened through conversion. We can give and receive feedback and discuss real-life examples (we trust close relationships). We can pray for, encourage and support each other as we begin to live out these purposes.
+ Give yourself regular spiritual check-ups.
God places high value on the habit of self-evaluation. (Questioning our motives, commitment, etc.) Regularly check the vital signs and health of your worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry and mission.
+ Write down your progress in a journal.
This journal shouldn’t be a diary of daily events (you may in addition keep one of those), but a RECORD OF THE LIFE LESSONS you don’t want to forget.
(If I think about it; Facebook, Twitter, etc is my current dairy; and this blog my spiritual journal – they overlap at times, but it’s all good…)
Writing helps clarify what God is doing in your life. Your life is a journey, and a journey deserves a journal. (It is only later in life that I started making notes and capturing the times in photo journals – I think ‘snapping’ the impasses are immensely helpful in jogging the moments and circumstances from the recesses of the mind)
Don’t just write down the pleasant things; record your doubts, fears and struggles with God – our greatest lessons come out of pain.
You owe it to future generations to preserve the testimony of how God helped you to fulfill His purposes on earth.
+ Pass on what you know to others.
It is your responsibility to carry the message of our purpose on earth to others. You probably know hundreds of people who do not know the purpose of life.
Share these truths with your children, your friends, your neighbours and those you work with. Passing it on is more than an obligation; it’s one of life’s greatest privileges – how different the world would be if everyone knew their purpose!
IT’S ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
The reason we pass on what we learn is for the glory of God and the growth of His Kingdom.
Not only does He want us to live out His purposes, He also wants us to help others do the same – bring them into His fellowship, help them grow to maturity and discover their place in His service; and then send them out to reach others, too.
The rest of your life can be the best of your life – START LIVING ON PURPOSE TODAY!
No need to balance the tightrope alone; come take my hand…I love you ~ SB
Your life in Christ’s Body has purposes, which you must keep in balance. These purposes are summarized in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus:
A. Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
B. Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Main purposes in a nutshell:
Love God with all your heart – worship
Love your neighbour as you love yourself – ministry
Go make disciples – evangelism or e-vangelism
Baptize everyone – fellowship
Teach them the way – discipleship
We all tend to overemphasize the purposes we feel more passionate about and neglect the others. Keep your life balanced by:
(i) Joining a small group (“Where two or three are gathered…”)
(ii) Regularly evaluating your spiritual health
(iii) Recording your progress
(iv) Passing on what you learn
+ Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group.
We learn best in a sharing community. Our minds are sharpened and our convictions are deepened through conversion. We can give and receive feedback and discuss real-life examples (we trust close relationships). We can pray for, encourage and support each other as we begin to live out these purposes.
+ Give yourself regular spiritual check-ups.
God places high value on the habit of self-evaluation. (Questioning our motives, commitment, etc.) Regularly check the vital signs and health of your worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry and mission.
+ Write down your progress in a journal.
This journal shouldn’t be a diary of daily events (you may in addition keep one of those), but a RECORD OF THE LIFE LESSONS you don’t want to forget.
(If I think about it; Facebook, Twitter, etc is my current dairy; and this blog my spiritual journal – they overlap at times, but it’s all good…)
Writing helps clarify what God is doing in your life. Your life is a journey, and a journey deserves a journal. (It is only later in life that I started making notes and capturing the times in photo journals – I think ‘snapping’ the impasses are immensely helpful in jogging the moments and circumstances from the recesses of the mind)
Don’t just write down the pleasant things; record your doubts, fears and struggles with God – our greatest lessons come out of pain.
You owe it to future generations to preserve the testimony of how God helped you to fulfill His purposes on earth.
+ Pass on what you know to others.
It is your responsibility to carry the message of our purpose on earth to others. You probably know hundreds of people who do not know the purpose of life.
Share these truths with your children, your friends, your neighbours and those you work with. Passing it on is more than an obligation; it’s one of life’s greatest privileges – how different the world would be if everyone knew their purpose!
IT’S ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
The reason we pass on what we learn is for the glory of God and the growth of His Kingdom.
Not only does He want us to live out His purposes, He also wants us to help others do the same – bring them into His fellowship, help them grow to maturity and discover their place in His service; and then send them out to reach others, too.
The rest of your life can be the best of your life – START LIVING ON PURPOSE TODAY!
No need to balance the tightrope alone; come take my hand…I love you ~ SB
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Day 38 – Becoming a World-Class Christian
The Great Commission is your commission – either be a world-class believer or a worldly believer…
As a world-class believer God invites you to participate in the greatest, largest, most diverse and most significant cause in history – His kingdom.
Someday the Great Commission will be the Great Completion.
It is a small world after all – every corner of the globe is available to you (ask any travel agent) – we have no excuse not to spread the Good News. And with Internet access we can personally communicate with people in virtually every country on earth. It has never been easier in history to fulfill your commission to go to the whole world.
To be a world-class believer, all you have to do is change your perspective and attitude.
+ Shift from self-centred to other-centred thinking.
Children only think of themselves; grownups think of others. This is a difficult mental shift because we’re naturally self-absorbed. The only way we can make this paradigm switch is by a moment-by-moment dependence on God.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them – develop the habit of praying silent ‘breath prayers’ for those you encounter. (Something like, “Father help me fathom what is keeping this person from knowing You.”
+ Shift from local to global thinking.
God has always cared about the entire world.
Our lives are increasingly intertwined with those in other nations as we share fashions, entertainment, music, sports and even fast-food. (Not to mention wars, sanctions, poverty, arms trade, etc)
These are exciting days to be alive. There are more believers on earth right now than ever before! World-class believers pray for the whole world, country by country. (So keep abreast with international news media)
Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world. (I JUST LOVE THE POWERFUL FEELING THIS GIVES ME!) People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they are defenseless against our prayers!
The Bible tells us to pray for opportunities to witness, for courage to speak up, for those who will believe, for the rapid spread of the message and for more field-workers.
If possible; strive to get to participate in a short-term mission overseas – it will enlarge your heart, expand your vision, stretch your faith, deepen your compassion and fill you with a kind of joy you have never known. (Guess it’s the kind of joy I feel when someone calls me unexpectedly; just to say they're missing me, or care about me, or they'd love to meet with other believers)
+ Shift from ‘here and now’ to eternal thinking.
Maintain an eternal perspective – distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s ultimate.
So much of what we waste our energy on will not matter even a year from now, much less for eternity. Don’t trade your life for temporary things.
(Almost everything’s disposable now anyway - a Facebook buddy shared this thought with me the other day - ‘GOD created us an original, don't die a copy’)
You can’t take it with you – but you can send it on ahead by investing it in people who are going to be there!
+ Shift from making excuses to creating solutions to fulfill your commission.
Common excuses are: ‘I only speak English’, ‘I don’t have anything to offer’, and ‘I’m too old' {or 'too young'}
God doesn’t want to use just some of His people; He wants to use all of His people. Many believers have missed God’s plan for their lives because they have never asked God where and how He wants them to serve. (You can’t sit around waiting for some supernatural feeling or an epiphany – don’t just do something, stand there! - lol)
Seriously pray and ask God what He wants from you in the years ahead – there are over 6 billion people on earth, and Jesus wants all His lost children to be found.
The Great Commission is your commission, and doing your part is the secret to living a life of significance.
Mission so possible... I love you ~ SB
As a world-class believer God invites you to participate in the greatest, largest, most diverse and most significant cause in history – His kingdom.
Someday the Great Commission will be the Great Completion.
It is a small world after all – every corner of the globe is available to you (ask any travel agent) – we have no excuse not to spread the Good News. And with Internet access we can personally communicate with people in virtually every country on earth. It has never been easier in history to fulfill your commission to go to the whole world.
To be a world-class believer, all you have to do is change your perspective and attitude.
+ Shift from self-centred to other-centred thinking.
Children only think of themselves; grownups think of others. This is a difficult mental shift because we’re naturally self-absorbed. The only way we can make this paradigm switch is by a moment-by-moment dependence on God.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them – develop the habit of praying silent ‘breath prayers’ for those you encounter. (Something like, “Father help me fathom what is keeping this person from knowing You.”
+ Shift from local to global thinking.
God has always cared about the entire world.
Our lives are increasingly intertwined with those in other nations as we share fashions, entertainment, music, sports and even fast-food. (Not to mention wars, sanctions, poverty, arms trade, etc)
These are exciting days to be alive. There are more believers on earth right now than ever before! World-class believers pray for the whole world, country by country. (So keep abreast with international news media)
Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world. (I JUST LOVE THE POWERFUL FEELING THIS GIVES ME!) People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they are defenseless against our prayers!
The Bible tells us to pray for opportunities to witness, for courage to speak up, for those who will believe, for the rapid spread of the message and for more field-workers.
If possible; strive to get to participate in a short-term mission overseas – it will enlarge your heart, expand your vision, stretch your faith, deepen your compassion and fill you with a kind of joy you have never known. (Guess it’s the kind of joy I feel when someone calls me unexpectedly; just to say they're missing me, or care about me, or they'd love to meet with other believers)
+ Shift from ‘here and now’ to eternal thinking.
Maintain an eternal perspective – distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s ultimate.
So much of what we waste our energy on will not matter even a year from now, much less for eternity. Don’t trade your life for temporary things.
(Almost everything’s disposable now anyway - a Facebook buddy shared this thought with me the other day - ‘GOD created us an original, don't die a copy’)
You can’t take it with you – but you can send it on ahead by investing it in people who are going to be there!
+ Shift from making excuses to creating solutions to fulfill your commission.
Common excuses are: ‘I only speak English’, ‘I don’t have anything to offer’, and ‘I’m too old' {or 'too young'}
God doesn’t want to use just some of His people; He wants to use all of His people. Many believers have missed God’s plan for their lives because they have never asked God where and how He wants them to serve. (You can’t sit around waiting for some supernatural feeling or an epiphany – don’t just do something, stand there! - lol)
Seriously pray and ask God what He wants from you in the years ahead – there are over 6 billion people on earth, and Jesus wants all His lost children to be found.
The Great Commission is your commission, and doing your part is the secret to living a life of significance.
Mission so possible... I love you ~ SB
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Day 37 – Sharing your Life Mission
God has given you a Life Message to share – as a believer you become God’s messenger on earth.
You have a storehouse of experiences that God wants to use to bring others into His family:
+ Your testimony - the story of how you began a relationship with Jesus
+ Your life lessons - important lessons God has taught you
+ Your Godly passions – the issues God has shaped you to care about
+ The Good News – the message of salvation
YOUR TESTIMONY
This is the essence of witnessing – simply sharing your personal experiences regarding the Lord. There is no other story just like yours (similar maybe), so only you can share it. It’s hard to argue with personal experiences, so they give you more credibility when sharing them with unbelievers.
Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart into the hearts of non-believers. Many people who won’t accept the authority of the Bible will listen to a humble, personal story. And you have a story for every experience in which God has helped you - different situations will call for different testimonies.
YOUR LIFE LESSONS
These are lessons and insights you have learned about God, relationships, temptations, and other aspects of life.
There isn’t enough time to learn everything in life by trial and error (although I know of many who are happily prone to pursue all manner of trials and errors), so it makes sense to learn from the life lessons of one another. (Much reluctance, prejustice and sceptism often prevents us from doing so)
Much needless frustration can be avoided if we learn from each other’s life lessons; extracted from everyday experiences.
YOUR GODLY PASSIONS
It may be a passion about a problem, a purpose, a principle, or a group of people. You cannot keep yourself from talking about that which you are passionate and care about most.
God gives some people a Godly passion to champion a cause – often a personally experienced difficulty (abuse, addiction, depression, etc); or
A passion to speak up for groups of others who can’t speak for themselves – the Bible is filled with commands to defend the defenseless; and so forth…
God gives us different passions so that everything He wants done in the world will get done (no one human can do it all!) – listen to and value each other’s life message.
THE GOOD NEWS
The Good News is this that when we trust in God’s grace to save us through what Jesus did, our sins are forgiven, we get a purpose for living, and we are promised a future home in Heaven.
God never made a person He didn’t love – everybody matters to Him (even the dull and the ignorant {also the evil ones}).
We must care about unbelievers because God does; love leaves no choice. (Not saying you have to marry them…) Ask God to fill your heart with His love for them.
As long as you know even one person who doesn’t know Christ, you must keep praying for them, serving them in love, and sharing the Good News with them.
Imagine the joy of greeting people in Heaven whom you helped get there. The eternal salvation of a single soul is more important than anything else you will ever achieve in life. Only people are going to last forever.
GOD MADE YOU TO BE:
+ A member of His family
+ A model of His character
+ A magnifier of His glory
+ A minister of His grace
And
+ A messenger of His Good News – this purpose can only be done on earth (the others you will keep doing into eternity)
So spread the Good News; you only have a short time to share your message and fulfill your mission.
‘Time is God's way of keeping everything from happening at once.’ - Anon
Gives me hope and steels my patience…I love you ~ SB
You have a storehouse of experiences that God wants to use to bring others into His family:
+ Your testimony - the story of how you began a relationship with Jesus
+ Your life lessons - important lessons God has taught you
+ Your Godly passions – the issues God has shaped you to care about
+ The Good News – the message of salvation
YOUR TESTIMONY
This is the essence of witnessing – simply sharing your personal experiences regarding the Lord. There is no other story just like yours (similar maybe), so only you can share it. It’s hard to argue with personal experiences, so they give you more credibility when sharing them with unbelievers.
Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart into the hearts of non-believers. Many people who won’t accept the authority of the Bible will listen to a humble, personal story. And you have a story for every experience in which God has helped you - different situations will call for different testimonies.
YOUR LIFE LESSONS
These are lessons and insights you have learned about God, relationships, temptations, and other aspects of life.
There isn’t enough time to learn everything in life by trial and error (although I know of many who are happily prone to pursue all manner of trials and errors), so it makes sense to learn from the life lessons of one another. (Much reluctance, prejustice and sceptism often prevents us from doing so)
Much needless frustration can be avoided if we learn from each other’s life lessons; extracted from everyday experiences.
YOUR GODLY PASSIONS
It may be a passion about a problem, a purpose, a principle, or a group of people. You cannot keep yourself from talking about that which you are passionate and care about most.
God gives some people a Godly passion to champion a cause – often a personally experienced difficulty (abuse, addiction, depression, etc); or
A passion to speak up for groups of others who can’t speak for themselves – the Bible is filled with commands to defend the defenseless; and so forth…
God gives us different passions so that everything He wants done in the world will get done (no one human can do it all!) – listen to and value each other’s life message.
THE GOOD NEWS
The Good News is this that when we trust in God’s grace to save us through what Jesus did, our sins are forgiven, we get a purpose for living, and we are promised a future home in Heaven.
God never made a person He didn’t love – everybody matters to Him (even the dull and the ignorant {also the evil ones}).
We must care about unbelievers because God does; love leaves no choice. (Not saying you have to marry them…) Ask God to fill your heart with His love for them.
As long as you know even one person who doesn’t know Christ, you must keep praying for them, serving them in love, and sharing the Good News with them.
Imagine the joy of greeting people in Heaven whom you helped get there. The eternal salvation of a single soul is more important than anything else you will ever achieve in life. Only people are going to last forever.
GOD MADE YOU TO BE:
+ A member of His family
+ A model of His character
+ A magnifier of His glory
+ A minister of His grace
And
+ A messenger of His Good News – this purpose can only be done on earth (the others you will keep doing into eternity)
So spread the Good News; you only have a short time to share your message and fulfill your mission.
‘Time is God's way of keeping everything from happening at once.’ - Anon
Gives me hope and steels my patience…I love you ~ SB
Friday, May 20, 2011
Day 36 – Made for a Mission
You were made for a mission.
God wants you to have both a ministry in the Body of Christ and a mission in the world. Ministry is your service to believers. Your Mission is your service to non-believers – and it is unique to you.
That mission is introducing people to God!
God wants to redeem human beings from Satan and reconcile them to Himself. We are the messengers of God’s love and purposes to the world – ambassadors at large.
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR MISSION
+ Your mission is a continuation of Jesus’ mission on earth.
In the GREAT COMMISSION Jesus said, “Go to the people of all nations and make them my Disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.”
This is your commission from Jesus, and it is not optional. You may be unaware that God holds you responsible for the unbelievers who live around you – your mission is to share Jesus with them. (This blog’s description covers the aspect of ‘Discipling’ – a project I have long been an exponent of; but have implemented poorly – really have to start getting serious about it…)
+ Your mission is a wonderful privilege.
It is an incredible honour to be used by God – working with Him and representing Him. Jesus has secured our salvation, put us in His family, given us the Spirit, and made us His agents in the world.
+ Telling others how to gain eternal life is the greatest thing you can do for them.
We have the greatest news in the world, and sharing it is the greatest kindness you can show to anyone. (This is an amazing mindset to adopt!)
We must remember that no matter how contented or successful people may appear to be, without Christ they are hopelessly lost and headed for eternal separation from God.
+ Your mission has eternal significance.
The consequences of your mission will last forever – that being, helping people establish an eternal relationship with God.
We have all of eternity to celebrate bringing people to God; but we have only our lifetime in which to reach them! (So there is no time for delay; there is actually urgency!)
No need to change your current job or move elsewhere; share the Good News where you are. Continually look for people God places in your path with whom you can share the gospel.
+ Your mission gives your life meaning.
‘The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.’ – William James (I’m posting this one on Facebook…)
Live Purpose Driven lives committed to worship, fellowship, spiritual growth, ministry, and fulfilling your mission on earth.
There are people on this planet that only you will be able to reach. If just one person will be in Heaven because of you, your life will have made a difference for eternity. (Caution: this accomplishment does not afford you any guarantee of a place in Heaven!)
+ God’s timetable for history’s conclusion is connected to the completion of our commission.
Speculating on the exact timing of Christ’s return is futile. JESUS said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (The end of the world – The end of days – “…like a thief in the night…”
(I received a SMS message from my Baykin asking me if I was aware that the world was going to end on Saturday. {must have received one of those irritating email chains} She enquired where I would be, ‘just in case’ – well; no I didn’t get the memo… and I’ll be, as always, close to her heart!)
If you want Jesus to come back sooner - focus on fulfilling your mission.
It is easy to get distracted and sidelined from your mission because Satan would rather have you do anything besides sharing your faith – even all kinds of good things as long as you don’t take anyone to Heaven with you.
WHAT IT COSTS TO FULFILL YOUR MISSION
To fulfill your mission will require that you abandon your agenda and accept God’s agenda for your life. If you will commit to fulfilling your mission in life no matter what it costs, you will experience the blessing of God. There is almost nothing God won’t do for those who are committed to serving the Kingdom of God. (You will want for nothing)
ONE MORE FOR JESUS
If you want to be used by God, you must care about what God cares about - the redemption of the people He made.
May you always be on the lookout to reach ‘one more for Jesus’ so that when you stand before God one day (will there still be ‘days’?), you can say, ‘Mission accomplished, Lord!’
Can’t wait to see you there… Love you ~ SB
God wants you to have both a ministry in the Body of Christ and a mission in the world. Ministry is your service to believers. Your Mission is your service to non-believers – and it is unique to you.
That mission is introducing people to God!
God wants to redeem human beings from Satan and reconcile them to Himself. We are the messengers of God’s love and purposes to the world – ambassadors at large.
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR MISSION
+ Your mission is a continuation of Jesus’ mission on earth.
In the GREAT COMMISSION Jesus said, “Go to the people of all nations and make them my Disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.”
This is your commission from Jesus, and it is not optional. You may be unaware that God holds you responsible for the unbelievers who live around you – your mission is to share Jesus with them. (This blog’s description covers the aspect of ‘Discipling’ – a project I have long been an exponent of; but have implemented poorly – really have to start getting serious about it…)
+ Your mission is a wonderful privilege.
It is an incredible honour to be used by God – working with Him and representing Him. Jesus has secured our salvation, put us in His family, given us the Spirit, and made us His agents in the world.
+ Telling others how to gain eternal life is the greatest thing you can do for them.
We have the greatest news in the world, and sharing it is the greatest kindness you can show to anyone. (This is an amazing mindset to adopt!)
We must remember that no matter how contented or successful people may appear to be, without Christ they are hopelessly lost and headed for eternal separation from God.
+ Your mission has eternal significance.
The consequences of your mission will last forever – that being, helping people establish an eternal relationship with God.
We have all of eternity to celebrate bringing people to God; but we have only our lifetime in which to reach them! (So there is no time for delay; there is actually urgency!)
No need to change your current job or move elsewhere; share the Good News where you are. Continually look for people God places in your path with whom you can share the gospel.
+ Your mission gives your life meaning.
‘The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.’ – William James (I’m posting this one on Facebook…)
Live Purpose Driven lives committed to worship, fellowship, spiritual growth, ministry, and fulfilling your mission on earth.
There are people on this planet that only you will be able to reach. If just one person will be in Heaven because of you, your life will have made a difference for eternity. (Caution: this accomplishment does not afford you any guarantee of a place in Heaven!)
+ God’s timetable for history’s conclusion is connected to the completion of our commission.
Speculating on the exact timing of Christ’s return is futile. JESUS said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (The end of the world – The end of days – “…like a thief in the night…”
(I received a SMS message from my Baykin asking me if I was aware that the world was going to end on Saturday. {must have received one of those irritating email chains} She enquired where I would be, ‘just in case’ – well; no I didn’t get the memo… and I’ll be, as always, close to her heart!)
If you want Jesus to come back sooner - focus on fulfilling your mission.
It is easy to get distracted and sidelined from your mission because Satan would rather have you do anything besides sharing your faith – even all kinds of good things as long as you don’t take anyone to Heaven with you.
WHAT IT COSTS TO FULFILL YOUR MISSION
To fulfill your mission will require that you abandon your agenda and accept God’s agenda for your life. If you will commit to fulfilling your mission in life no matter what it costs, you will experience the blessing of God. There is almost nothing God won’t do for those who are committed to serving the Kingdom of God. (You will want for nothing)
ONE MORE FOR JESUS
If you want to be used by God, you must care about what God cares about - the redemption of the people He made.
May you always be on the lookout to reach ‘one more for Jesus’ so that when you stand before God one day (will there still be ‘days’?), you can say, ‘Mission accomplished, Lord!’
Can’t wait to see you there… Love you ~ SB
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Day 35 – God’s power in your weakness
God loves to use weak people.
We are all flawed and imperfect - baggaged with physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, financial and relational limiting weaknesses.
Usually we deny our weaknesses, defend them, excuse them, hide them, and resent them. We think that God only wants to use our strengths; but He also wants to use our weaknesses for His glory.
God loves to use imperfect, ordinary people to do the extraordinary things in spite of their frailties or any other inherited limitations; or that which they are powerless to change – God is never limited by our limitations!
+ Admit your weaknesses.
Instead of living in denial or making excuses, take the time to identify your personal weaknesses – make a list. You are only human; surely you can admit your shortcomings to yourself?
+ Be content with your weaknesses.
Being content with weakness doesn’t seem to make sense – don’t you think?
But this contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God. Whenever you feel weak, God is reminding you to depend on Him – weaknesses prevent arrogance, keep us humble, keep our egos in check and govern us from going too fast and running ahead of God – He deliberately allows them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you.
Furthermore; our weaknesses encourage fellowship between believers and increase our capacity for sympathy and ministry.
Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts – the things you’re most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, and most reluctant to share – the very tools God can use most powerfully to heal others.
+ Honestly share your weaknesses. (Saw this one coming, eh?)
The more you let down your guard, take off your mask, and share your struggles, the more God will be able to use you in serving others.
When you do reveal your failures, feelings, frustrations and fears; you risk rejection – but the benefits are worth the risk.
Humility is not putting yourself down or denying your strengths; rather it is being honest about your weaknesses. Pretentiousness repels but authenticity attracts, and the vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy.
(This I have experienced firsthand – deep personal admissions from a dearly beloved, that I was blessed to be made privy to, had a huge impact on realigning myself to that person; and to a whole new world in general)
Our strengths create competition, but our weaknesses create community.
You can impress people from a distance, but you must get close to influence them – the most essential quality for leadership is not perfection, but credibility.
(At work, when faced with an uncommon problem, I endeavour to elicit the opinion of even the least menial worker with a simple, ‘What do you think? By admitting to not being ‘Mr-Know-It-All’ I engender their respect for me, and boost their self-esteem. Also helps that if their idea doesn’t work out, I’m off the hook! – lol – just kidding!)
+ Glory in your weaknesses.
Instead of posing as self-confident and invincible, see yourself as a trophy of grace – fill your heart with praise for Jesus, who understands every weakness and for the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our weakness.
If you want God to bless you and use you greatly, you must be willing to ‘walk with a limp’ for the rest of your life, because God uses weak people; and none of us can be perfect!
Come share in my imperfection… Love you ~ SB
We are all flawed and imperfect - baggaged with physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, financial and relational limiting weaknesses.
Usually we deny our weaknesses, defend them, excuse them, hide them, and resent them. We think that God only wants to use our strengths; but He also wants to use our weaknesses for His glory.
God loves to use imperfect, ordinary people to do the extraordinary things in spite of their frailties or any other inherited limitations; or that which they are powerless to change – God is never limited by our limitations!
+ Admit your weaknesses.
Instead of living in denial or making excuses, take the time to identify your personal weaknesses – make a list. You are only human; surely you can admit your shortcomings to yourself?
+ Be content with your weaknesses.
Being content with weakness doesn’t seem to make sense – don’t you think?
But this contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God. Whenever you feel weak, God is reminding you to depend on Him – weaknesses prevent arrogance, keep us humble, keep our egos in check and govern us from going too fast and running ahead of God – He deliberately allows them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you.
Furthermore; our weaknesses encourage fellowship between believers and increase our capacity for sympathy and ministry.
Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts – the things you’re most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, and most reluctant to share – the very tools God can use most powerfully to heal others.
+ Honestly share your weaknesses. (Saw this one coming, eh?)
The more you let down your guard, take off your mask, and share your struggles, the more God will be able to use you in serving others.
When you do reveal your failures, feelings, frustrations and fears; you risk rejection – but the benefits are worth the risk.
Humility is not putting yourself down or denying your strengths; rather it is being honest about your weaknesses. Pretentiousness repels but authenticity attracts, and the vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy.
(This I have experienced firsthand – deep personal admissions from a dearly beloved, that I was blessed to be made privy to, had a huge impact on realigning myself to that person; and to a whole new world in general)
Our strengths create competition, but our weaknesses create community.
You can impress people from a distance, but you must get close to influence them – the most essential quality for leadership is not perfection, but credibility.
(At work, when faced with an uncommon problem, I endeavour to elicit the opinion of even the least menial worker with a simple, ‘What do you think? By admitting to not being ‘Mr-Know-It-All’ I engender their respect for me, and boost their self-esteem. Also helps that if their idea doesn’t work out, I’m off the hook! – lol – just kidding!)
+ Glory in your weaknesses.
Instead of posing as self-confident and invincible, see yourself as a trophy of grace – fill your heart with praise for Jesus, who understands every weakness and for the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our weakness.
If you want God to bless you and use you greatly, you must be willing to ‘walk with a limp’ for the rest of your life, because God uses weak people; and none of us can be perfect!
Come share in my imperfection… Love you ~ SB
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Day 34 – Thinking like a servant
Service starts in your mind (As does temptation – remember?)
Attitudes count more than achievements. God is always more interested in why we do something than what we do.
+ Servants think more about others than about themselves.
This is what it means to ‘lose your life’ – forgetting yourself in service to others. It’s only when we forget ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered.
Unfortunately, we serve to get others to like us, to be admired, or to achieve our own goals – that is manipulation, not ministry.
Humility is a daily struggle, a lesson we must relearn over and over. Self-denial is the core of servanthood.
+ Servants think like stewards, not owners.
Servants remember that GOD OWNS IT ALL!
Servanthood and stewardship go together, since God expects us to be trustworthy in both. To become a real servant you are going to have to settle the issue of money in your life…
You CANNOT serve both God and Money.
Living for your ministry and living for money are mutually exclusive goals. Money and materialism has the greatest potential to replace GOD in your life.
God uses money to test your faithfulness as a servant. How you manage your money affects how much God can bless your life – use wealth and riches to fund God’s church and its mission in the world. (My tithing philosophy rings clear here; how you further God’s work with your excess funds and goods is a personal choice between donating to an organized body and going out and doing it yourself – I don’t think God minds; as long as you are doing it with the right attitude of heart)
+ Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.
Competition between God’s servants is illogical – we’ve all been given different assignments; and we’re all uniquely shaped.
(Makes me think about our manual labourers at work; always checking and squabbling about who’s perhaps doing a greater share of the workload {reckon it’s because the daily pay rate is the same} – can’t blame them, I guess – still find it amusing…)
It is not our job to evaluate the Master’s other servants – let the Master handle it. Your service for Christ is never wasted regardless of what others say.
+ Servants base their identity in Christ.
They remember that they are loved and accepted by grace; and accordingly don’t have to prove their worth. If you’re going to be a servant, you must settle your identity in Christ – only secure people can truly serve God.
When you base your worth and identity on your relationship to Christ, you are freed from the expectations of others, and that allows you to really serve them best.
Servants find status symbols unnecessary, and they don’t measure their worth by their achievements. The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself.
+ Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation. (Love this)
“Serve the Lord with gladness” the Bible tells us.
Because we love the Lord, we’re grateful for His grace, and we know that serving is the highest use of life, and know that God has promised a reward.
Jesus promised: “The Father will honour and reward anyone who serves me” – and now we know how…
‘The only really happy people are those who have learned to serve’ – Albert Schweitzer
Deuce... I love you ~ SB
Attitudes count more than achievements. God is always more interested in why we do something than what we do.
+ Servants think more about others than about themselves.
This is what it means to ‘lose your life’ – forgetting yourself in service to others. It’s only when we forget ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered.
Unfortunately, we serve to get others to like us, to be admired, or to achieve our own goals – that is manipulation, not ministry.
Humility is a daily struggle, a lesson we must relearn over and over. Self-denial is the core of servanthood.
+ Servants think like stewards, not owners.
Servants remember that GOD OWNS IT ALL!
Servanthood and stewardship go together, since God expects us to be trustworthy in both. To become a real servant you are going to have to settle the issue of money in your life…
You CANNOT serve both God and Money.
Living for your ministry and living for money are mutually exclusive goals. Money and materialism has the greatest potential to replace GOD in your life.
God uses money to test your faithfulness as a servant. How you manage your money affects how much God can bless your life – use wealth and riches to fund God’s church and its mission in the world. (My tithing philosophy rings clear here; how you further God’s work with your excess funds and goods is a personal choice between donating to an organized body and going out and doing it yourself – I don’t think God minds; as long as you are doing it with the right attitude of heart)
+ Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.
Competition between God’s servants is illogical – we’ve all been given different assignments; and we’re all uniquely shaped.
(Makes me think about our manual labourers at work; always checking and squabbling about who’s perhaps doing a greater share of the workload {reckon it’s because the daily pay rate is the same} – can’t blame them, I guess – still find it amusing…)
It is not our job to evaluate the Master’s other servants – let the Master handle it. Your service for Christ is never wasted regardless of what others say.
+ Servants base their identity in Christ.
They remember that they are loved and accepted by grace; and accordingly don’t have to prove their worth. If you’re going to be a servant, you must settle your identity in Christ – only secure people can truly serve God.
When you base your worth and identity on your relationship to Christ, you are freed from the expectations of others, and that allows you to really serve them best.
Servants find status symbols unnecessary, and they don’t measure their worth by their achievements. The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself.
+ Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation. (Love this)
“Serve the Lord with gladness” the Bible tells us.
Because we love the Lord, we’re grateful for His grace, and we know that serving is the highest use of life, and know that God has promised a reward.
Jesus promised: “The Father will honour and reward anyone who serves me” – and now we know how…
‘The only really happy people are those who have learned to serve’ – Albert Schweitzer
Deuce... I love you ~ SB
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Day 33 – How real servants act
We serve God by serving others.
In our self-serving culture with its ‘me-first’ mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept. (At work, I often catch myself delegating tasks to our casual staff that I could easily do or get myself; thus interrupting their given assignments - I thank God for opening my eyes to my defective attitude)
God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you. Remember God shaped you for service, not for self-centredness. Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant’s heart will reveal your maturity.
+ Real servants make themselves available to serve.
If you only serve when it’s convenient for you, you’re not a real servant. Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He needs to. Servants see interruptions as divine appointments for ministry and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.
+ Real servants pay attention to needs.
Always be on the lookout for ways to help others. When God puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow in servant-hood. You may only get one chance to serve that person, so take advantage of the moment.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can” – John Wesley
(Good means ways, places, times and people as long as ever – being Methodist that is the way I remembered it for Catechism/Confirmation class)
Do little things as if they were great things – God is watching us…
+ Real servants do their best with what they have.
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. One reason many people never serve is that they fear they are not good enough to serve. It doesn’t have to be perfect for God to use and bless it.
+ Real servants do every task with equal dedication.
The size of the task is irrelevant – God will never exempt you from the menial and mundane. Small tasks often show a big heart. Your servant’s heart is revealed in little acts that others don’t think of doing. No task is beneath you when you have a servant’s heart – before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.
Sometimes you serve upward to those in authority, and sometimes you serve downward to those in need – you develop a servant’s heart when you’re willing to do anything needed.
+ Real servants are faithful to their ministry.
Good servants finish their tasks, fulfill responsibilities, keep promises and complete commitments – they don’t quit when feeling discouraged and are trustworthy and dependable.
Faithfulness has always been a rare quality – you need to keep promises, fulfill vows and honour commitments to be a faithful servant – work at it constantly.
Imagine what it will feel like when you get to Heaven one day and God says to you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…” {Matthew 25: 21 & 23} (I sheepishly admit using that verse when pleased with the accomplishments of the guys at work – they actually perform better to hear me compliment them with it! – am I bad?)
Faithful servants never retire. They serve faithfully as long as they’re alive!
+ Real servants maintain a low profile.
“Put on the apron of humility, to serve one another.” When real servants are given recognition for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow the acclamation to distract them from their work.
Don’t turn helping others, giving, and even prayer into a performance for others – Jesus hated this attitude. Self-promotion and servanthood don’t mix!
You won’t find many real servants in the limelight; in truth they avoid it when possible. They are content with quietly serving in the shadows. [Unfortunately, many leaders today start off as servants but end up as celebrities. They become addicted to attention, unaware that always being in the spotlight blinds you!]
You may be serving in obscurity in some small place, feeling unknown and unappreciated. LISTEN: God put you where you are for a purpose! – Stay put, He will let you know if He wants you somewhere else – your ministry matters to the Kingdom of God.
In Heaven God is going to openly reward some of His most obscure and unknown servants. Knowing this, don’t be discouraged when your service is unnoticed or taken for granted. Keep on serving God. Even the smallest service is noticed by God and will be rewarded.
I so wish and pray we could be serving together... I love you ~ SB
In our self-serving culture with its ‘me-first’ mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept. (At work, I often catch myself delegating tasks to our casual staff that I could easily do or get myself; thus interrupting their given assignments - I thank God for opening my eyes to my defective attitude)
God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you. Remember God shaped you for service, not for self-centredness. Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant’s heart will reveal your maturity.
+ Real servants make themselves available to serve.
If you only serve when it’s convenient for you, you’re not a real servant. Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He needs to. Servants see interruptions as divine appointments for ministry and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.
+ Real servants pay attention to needs.
Always be on the lookout for ways to help others. When God puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow in servant-hood. You may only get one chance to serve that person, so take advantage of the moment.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can” – John Wesley
(Good means ways, places, times and people as long as ever – being Methodist that is the way I remembered it for Catechism/Confirmation class)
Do little things as if they were great things – God is watching us…
+ Real servants do their best with what they have.
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. One reason many people never serve is that they fear they are not good enough to serve. It doesn’t have to be perfect for God to use and bless it.
+ Real servants do every task with equal dedication.
The size of the task is irrelevant – God will never exempt you from the menial and mundane. Small tasks often show a big heart. Your servant’s heart is revealed in little acts that others don’t think of doing. No task is beneath you when you have a servant’s heart – before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.
Sometimes you serve upward to those in authority, and sometimes you serve downward to those in need – you develop a servant’s heart when you’re willing to do anything needed.
+ Real servants are faithful to their ministry.
Good servants finish their tasks, fulfill responsibilities, keep promises and complete commitments – they don’t quit when feeling discouraged and are trustworthy and dependable.
Faithfulness has always been a rare quality – you need to keep promises, fulfill vows and honour commitments to be a faithful servant – work at it constantly.
Imagine what it will feel like when you get to Heaven one day and God says to you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…” {Matthew 25: 21 & 23} (I sheepishly admit using that verse when pleased with the accomplishments of the guys at work – they actually perform better to hear me compliment them with it! – am I bad?)
Faithful servants never retire. They serve faithfully as long as they’re alive!
+ Real servants maintain a low profile.
“Put on the apron of humility, to serve one another.” When real servants are given recognition for their service, they humbly accept it but don’t allow the acclamation to distract them from their work.
Don’t turn helping others, giving, and even prayer into a performance for others – Jesus hated this attitude. Self-promotion and servanthood don’t mix!
You won’t find many real servants in the limelight; in truth they avoid it when possible. They are content with quietly serving in the shadows. [Unfortunately, many leaders today start off as servants but end up as celebrities. They become addicted to attention, unaware that always being in the spotlight blinds you!]
You may be serving in obscurity in some small place, feeling unknown and unappreciated. LISTEN: God put you where you are for a purpose! – Stay put, He will let you know if He wants you somewhere else – your ministry matters to the Kingdom of God.
In Heaven God is going to openly reward some of His most obscure and unknown servants. Knowing this, don’t be discouraged when your service is unnoticed or taken for granted. Keep on serving God. Even the smallest service is noticed by God and will be rewarded.
I so wish and pray we could be serving together... I love you ~ SB
Monday, May 16, 2011
Day 32 – Using What God gave you
God deserves your best.
What you are is God’s gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God – Danish Proverb
The best use of your life is to serve God out of your unique shape; discover your shape, learn to accept and enjoy it, and then develop it to its fullest potential.
DISCOVER YOUR SHAPE
+ BEGIN by assessing your gifts and abilities.
Take a long, honest look at what you’re good at and what you aren’t good at.
Make a list. Ask other people for their candid opinion.
Be wary of serving or teaching or giving generously out of maturity rather than because it is your spiritual gift.
The best way to discover your gifts and abilities is to experiment with different areas of service – by experimenting with different ministries you will uncover your true gifts.
You have dozens of hidden abilities and gifts. No matter how old you are, never stop experimenting. You will never know what you’re good at until you try it out.
+ CONSIDER your heart and your personality.
Again, it helps to get feedback from those who know you best. (Doing this discovery into ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ was prompted by someone who knows me well {didn’t fully realise it at the time} challenging the mettle of my spiritual commitment)
+ EXAMINE your experiences and extract the lessons you have learned.
Review your life and think about how it has shaped you – forgotten experiences are worthless; and a good reason for keeping a spiritual journal. (I store a lot of my personal life and reflections online; in blogs, emails and enotes {even ‘facebook’ and ‘twitter’ posts} – great for remote portable access via my mobile phone – a writing journal is also always at my bedside for later edification and transcription to IT media)
We rarely see God’s good purpose in pain or failure or embarrassment while it is happening – only in hindsight do we understand how God intended a problem for good.
ACCEPT AND ENJOY YOUR SHAPE
God knows what’s best for you – gratefully accept the way He has fashioned and wired you. Your shape was sovereignly determined by God for His purpose – celebrate the shape God has given only to you – recognizing your limitations.
Nobody is good at everything, and no one is called to be everything. God wants you to enjoy the shape He has given you. Don’t overextend your ministry; your goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for you.
Satan will try to steal the joy of service from you; by tempting you to compare your ministry with others and by tempting you to conform your ministry to the expectations of others – avoid comparisons, resist exaggeration, and seek only God’s commendation.
‘If my life is fruitless it doesn’t matter who praises me; and if my life is fruitful it doesn’t matter who criticizes me.’ – John Bunyan
KEEP DEVELOPING YOUR SHAPE
Cultivate your gifts and abilities, keep your heart aflame, grow your character and personality and broaden your experiences – in so doing you will be increasingly more effective in your service. (So much easier said than done – keep persevering to your life’s end, I guess)
Whatever gifts you have been given can be enlarged and developed through practice. Don’t settle for a half-developed gift, stretch yourself and learn all you can.
In Heaven we are going to serve God forever; so prepare you for that eternal service by practicing on earth; thereby readying yourself for eternal responsibilities and rewards.
Let’s do this together... I love you ~ SB
What you are is God’s gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God – Danish Proverb
The best use of your life is to serve God out of your unique shape; discover your shape, learn to accept and enjoy it, and then develop it to its fullest potential.
DISCOVER YOUR SHAPE
+ BEGIN by assessing your gifts and abilities.
Take a long, honest look at what you’re good at and what you aren’t good at.
Make a list. Ask other people for their candid opinion.
Be wary of serving or teaching or giving generously out of maturity rather than because it is your spiritual gift.
The best way to discover your gifts and abilities is to experiment with different areas of service – by experimenting with different ministries you will uncover your true gifts.
You have dozens of hidden abilities and gifts. No matter how old you are, never stop experimenting. You will never know what you’re good at until you try it out.
+ CONSIDER your heart and your personality.
Again, it helps to get feedback from those who know you best. (Doing this discovery into ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ was prompted by someone who knows me well {didn’t fully realise it at the time} challenging the mettle of my spiritual commitment)
+ EXAMINE your experiences and extract the lessons you have learned.
Review your life and think about how it has shaped you – forgotten experiences are worthless; and a good reason for keeping a spiritual journal. (I store a lot of my personal life and reflections online; in blogs, emails and enotes {even ‘facebook’ and ‘twitter’ posts} – great for remote portable access via my mobile phone – a writing journal is also always at my bedside for later edification and transcription to IT media)
We rarely see God’s good purpose in pain or failure or embarrassment while it is happening – only in hindsight do we understand how God intended a problem for good.
ACCEPT AND ENJOY YOUR SHAPE
God knows what’s best for you – gratefully accept the way He has fashioned and wired you. Your shape was sovereignly determined by God for His purpose – celebrate the shape God has given only to you – recognizing your limitations.
Nobody is good at everything, and no one is called to be everything. God wants you to enjoy the shape He has given you. Don’t overextend your ministry; your goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for you.
Satan will try to steal the joy of service from you; by tempting you to compare your ministry with others and by tempting you to conform your ministry to the expectations of others – avoid comparisons, resist exaggeration, and seek only God’s commendation.
‘If my life is fruitless it doesn’t matter who praises me; and if my life is fruitful it doesn’t matter who criticizes me.’ – John Bunyan
KEEP DEVELOPING YOUR SHAPE
Cultivate your gifts and abilities, keep your heart aflame, grow your character and personality and broaden your experiences – in so doing you will be increasingly more effective in your service. (So much easier said than done – keep persevering to your life’s end, I guess)
Whatever gifts you have been given can be enlarged and developed through practice. Don’t settle for a half-developed gift, stretch yourself and learn all you can.
In Heaven we are going to serve God forever; so prepare you for that eternal service by practicing on earth; thereby readying yourself for eternal responsibilities and rewards.
Let’s do this together... I love you ~ SB
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Day 31 – Understanding your shape
Only you can be you – no one else on earth will ever be able to play the role God planned for you.
You are a combination of many different factors: Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experience.
UNPACKING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
These are special God-empowered abilities for serving Him; given to believers to be used in their ministry.
You can’t earn or deserve your spiritual gifts – they are an expression of God’s grace to you; only the Holy Spirit can distribute these gifts and He alone decides which gift each person should have.
Your spiritual gifts are not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people are given gifts for your benefit. (You can’t do it all…)
God planned it this way so that we would need each other. We are commanded to discover and develop our spiritual gifts – take time to discover yours; an unopened gift is worthless.
Don’t become resentful or jealous of how God uses others (by comparing your gift/role to another believer’s gift/role) and don’t expect everyone to be as passionate as you are about your own gift/role.
There are different kinds of service in God’s church, but it is the same Lord we are serving.
LISTENING TO YOUR HEART
Your heart represents the source of all your motivations – what you love to do and what you care about most. (I lost my true love many years ago, but praise the Lord; when we found each other again, my heart knew immediately that we belonged together! – so I know this feeling well)
God has given each of us a unique emotional ‘heartbeat’ that races when we think about the subjects, activities, or circumstances that really take our interest. Another word for heart is ‘passion’. Things and subjects and people we feel passionate about, reveal the nature of our hearts.
Don’t ignore your interests. Consider how they might be used for God’s glory. There is a reason that you love to do these things. When you are doing what you love doing, no one needs to motivate you – you do it for the pure enjoyment therein and you don’t need rewards or applause or payment. (OK got to work on that one)
Whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it – serving God in a way that expresses your heart and doing it for His glory.
APPLYING YOUR ABILITIES
Your abilities are the natural talents you were born with. (Sadly, some of us never discover our true talents because of the ways of the world clouding our vision – I remarked earlier that I have got to work on my expectation of remuneration for doing what I do; perhaps I’m not following my true talent’s passion?)
+ All of our abilities come from God.
Even abilities used to sin are God-given; they are just being misused and abused. You have dozens, probably hundreds, of untapped, unrecognized and unused abilities lying dormant inside of you. You are a bundle of incredible abilities; an amazing creation of God. (Although I’m not a blood-parent, I understand how parents must feel when their offspring don’t rise to their full potential)
+ Every ability can be used for God’s glory.
God has a place in His church where your specialties can shine and you can make a difference – find that place!
First realize your ability comes from God and give Him the credit. Secondly, use your business acumen, creativity or skills to serve a need of others and to share your faith with unbelievers. Thirdly, return at least a tithe (10%) of your profits to God as an act of worship. (This particular text was aimed only at people with the ability to make a lot of money; but I sort of generalized it because nowadays you can make lots of money from just about any talent – this tithe part also a bit ironic {see earlier commentary} Anyway I believe in tithing and do so directly through happenstance contact with the less-fortunate – to each his own, I guess)
+ What you are able to do, God wants you to do.
To discover God’s-will for your life, you should seriously examine what you are good at doing and what you are not good at. God doesn’t waste abilities; He matches our calling and our capabilities. Your abilities were not given just for you to make a living; God gave them to you for your ministry.
USING YOUR PERSONALITY
Your uniqueness is a scientific fact of life. There has never been, and never will be anybody exactly like you. It is obvious that God loves variety – just look around you!
There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ temperament for ministry. Your personality will effect how and where you use your spiritual gifts and abilities. When you are forced to minister in a manner that is ‘out of character’ for your temperament, it creates tension and discomfort, requires more energy and effort, and produces less than the best results – copying or mimicking someone else’s ministry never works.
When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction and fruitfulness.
EMPLOYING YOUR EXPERIENCES
God has allowed you to be shaped by your life’s experiences, most beyond your control, to mold you for His purposes.
Family experiences, Educational experiences, Vocational experiences, Spiritual experiences, Ministry experiences, Painful experiences.
(I worked in a bank for almost 15 years before I became aware that it wasn’t for me. Yet the skills I gained stand me in good stead in all my current doings and dealings – even writing these posts! – Yes, God is good! Attending an all-boys school also probably shaped my appreciation and respect for the fairer sex? I could go on…)
Let’s explore Painful experiences:
God uses painful experiences the most to prepare us for ministry. God never wastes a hurt. Your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt!
God intentionally allows you to go through painful experiences to equip you for ministry to others. (My stint in the bank actually straddles the lines between painful, educational and vocational)
The very experiences that you have resented or regretted most in life (one’s you want to hide or forget) are the experiences that God wants you to use to help others – they are your ministry – to use them you must be willing to share them.
People are always more encouraged when we share how God’s grace helped us in weakness than when we boast about our strengths.
You will be most effective when you use your spiritual gifts and abilities in the area of your heart’s desire, and in a way that best expresses your personality and experiences.
The better the fit, the more successful you will be... I love you ~ SB
You are a combination of many different factors: Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experience.
UNPACKING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
These are special God-empowered abilities for serving Him; given to believers to be used in their ministry.
You can’t earn or deserve your spiritual gifts – they are an expression of God’s grace to you; only the Holy Spirit can distribute these gifts and He alone decides which gift each person should have.
Your spiritual gifts are not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people are given gifts for your benefit. (You can’t do it all…)
God planned it this way so that we would need each other. We are commanded to discover and develop our spiritual gifts – take time to discover yours; an unopened gift is worthless.
Don’t become resentful or jealous of how God uses others (by comparing your gift/role to another believer’s gift/role) and don’t expect everyone to be as passionate as you are about your own gift/role.
There are different kinds of service in God’s church, but it is the same Lord we are serving.
LISTENING TO YOUR HEART
Your heart represents the source of all your motivations – what you love to do and what you care about most. (I lost my true love many years ago, but praise the Lord; when we found each other again, my heart knew immediately that we belonged together! – so I know this feeling well)
God has given each of us a unique emotional ‘heartbeat’ that races when we think about the subjects, activities, or circumstances that really take our interest. Another word for heart is ‘passion’. Things and subjects and people we feel passionate about, reveal the nature of our hearts.
Don’t ignore your interests. Consider how they might be used for God’s glory. There is a reason that you love to do these things. When you are doing what you love doing, no one needs to motivate you – you do it for the pure enjoyment therein and you don’t need rewards or applause or payment. (OK got to work on that one)
Whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it – serving God in a way that expresses your heart and doing it for His glory.
APPLYING YOUR ABILITIES
Your abilities are the natural talents you were born with. (Sadly, some of us never discover our true talents because of the ways of the world clouding our vision – I remarked earlier that I have got to work on my expectation of remuneration for doing what I do; perhaps I’m not following my true talent’s passion?)
+ All of our abilities come from God.
Even abilities used to sin are God-given; they are just being misused and abused. You have dozens, probably hundreds, of untapped, unrecognized and unused abilities lying dormant inside of you. You are a bundle of incredible abilities; an amazing creation of God. (Although I’m not a blood-parent, I understand how parents must feel when their offspring don’t rise to their full potential)
+ Every ability can be used for God’s glory.
God has a place in His church where your specialties can shine and you can make a difference – find that place!
First realize your ability comes from God and give Him the credit. Secondly, use your business acumen, creativity or skills to serve a need of others and to share your faith with unbelievers. Thirdly, return at least a tithe (10%) of your profits to God as an act of worship. (This particular text was aimed only at people with the ability to make a lot of money; but I sort of generalized it because nowadays you can make lots of money from just about any talent – this tithe part also a bit ironic {see earlier commentary} Anyway I believe in tithing and do so directly through happenstance contact with the less-fortunate – to each his own, I guess)
+ What you are able to do, God wants you to do.
To discover God’s-will for your life, you should seriously examine what you are good at doing and what you are not good at. God doesn’t waste abilities; He matches our calling and our capabilities. Your abilities were not given just for you to make a living; God gave them to you for your ministry.
USING YOUR PERSONALITY
Your uniqueness is a scientific fact of life. There has never been, and never will be anybody exactly like you. It is obvious that God loves variety – just look around you!
There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ temperament for ministry. Your personality will effect how and where you use your spiritual gifts and abilities. When you are forced to minister in a manner that is ‘out of character’ for your temperament, it creates tension and discomfort, requires more energy and effort, and produces less than the best results – copying or mimicking someone else’s ministry never works.
When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction and fruitfulness.
EMPLOYING YOUR EXPERIENCES
God has allowed you to be shaped by your life’s experiences, most beyond your control, to mold you for His purposes.
Family experiences, Educational experiences, Vocational experiences, Spiritual experiences, Ministry experiences, Painful experiences.
(I worked in a bank for almost 15 years before I became aware that it wasn’t for me. Yet the skills I gained stand me in good stead in all my current doings and dealings – even writing these posts! – Yes, God is good! Attending an all-boys school also probably shaped my appreciation and respect for the fairer sex? I could go on…)
Let’s explore Painful experiences:
God uses painful experiences the most to prepare us for ministry. God never wastes a hurt. Your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt!
God intentionally allows you to go through painful experiences to equip you for ministry to others. (My stint in the bank actually straddles the lines between painful, educational and vocational)
The very experiences that you have resented or regretted most in life (one’s you want to hide or forget) are the experiences that God wants you to use to help others – they are your ministry – to use them you must be willing to share them.
People are always more encouraged when we share how God’s grace helped us in weakness than when we boast about our strengths.
You will be most effective when you use your spiritual gifts and abilities in the area of your heart’s desire, and in a way that best expresses your personality and experiences.
The better the fit, the more successful you will be... I love you ~ SB
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Day 30 – Shaped for serving God
You were shaped to serve God – uniquely designed, or ‘shaped’, to do certain things.
You are the way you are because you were made for a specific ministry. You are God’s handcrafted work of art – custom-designed, one-of-a-kind, original masterpiece.
He carefully mixed the DNA cocktail that created you. Not only did God shape you before your birth, He planned every day of your life to support His shaping process – nothing that happens in your life is insignificant, all of it is contrived to mold you for your ministry to others and shape you for your service to Him.
God never wastes anything. He gave you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences which He intends using, through you, for His glory. (God doesn’t make junk – Ethel waters)
The Bible says you are “wonderfully complex.” You are a combination of many different factors. Whenever God gives you an assignment He always equips you with what you need to accomplish it.
A few of theses factors are:
Spiritual gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality and
Experience
Tomorrow, God-willing, we will explore these five chosen factors that God uses to shape us for His service... I love you ~ SB
You are the way you are because you were made for a specific ministry. You are God’s handcrafted work of art – custom-designed, one-of-a-kind, original masterpiece.
He carefully mixed the DNA cocktail that created you. Not only did God shape you before your birth, He planned every day of your life to support His shaping process – nothing that happens in your life is insignificant, all of it is contrived to mold you for your ministry to others and shape you for your service to Him.
God never wastes anything. He gave you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences which He intends using, through you, for His glory. (God doesn’t make junk – Ethel waters)
The Bible says you are “wonderfully complex.” You are a combination of many different factors. Whenever God gives you an assignment He always equips you with what you need to accomplish it.
A few of theses factors are:
Spiritual gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality and
Experience
Tomorrow, God-willing, we will explore these five chosen factors that God uses to shape us for His service... I love you ~ SB
Friday, May 13, 2011
Day 29 – Accepting your assignment
You were put on earth to make a contribution – it is called your ‘ministry’ or service.
+ You were created to serve God.
Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God and fulfilling one of your purposes here on earth.
+ You were saved to serve God.
It cost Jesus His own life to purchase your salvation. Through salvation out past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.
If you have no love for others, no desire to serve others and you are only concerned about your own needs, you must question whether Christ is really in your life.
Every member of God’s family is a minister. If you are a believer, you are a minister, and when you’re serving, you’re ministering. God has a ministry for you in His church and a mission for you in the world.
+ You are called to serve God.
Every believer is called to service. A ‘non-serving’ believer (or, as often heard, ‘non-practicing’ Christian) is a contradiction in terms.
Anytime you use your God-given abilities to help others, you are fulfilling your calling. There are no insignificant ministries in the church. There is no correlation between size and importance. Every ministry matters because we are all dependent on each other to function.
+ You are commanded to serve God.
Service is not optional, something to be tacked onto our schedules if we can spare the time.
Jesus taught that spiritual maturity is never an end in itself. We must act on what we know and practice what we claim to believe – we grow up in order to give out. (Serving is the opposite of our natural inclination – ‘serve us’ instead of ‘service’)
PREPARING FOR ETERNITY
At the end of your life on earth you will stand before God and He is going to evaluate how well you served others with your life.
At that point, all our excuses for self-centredness will sound hollow – for believers it will mean loss of eternal rewards.
If you aren’t serving, you’re just existing. God wants you to love and serve others unselfishly.
SERVICE AND SIGNIFICANCE
Service is the pathway to real significance. It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives.
God wants to use you to make a difference in His world. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of your life.
(And in the end it’s not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years. – Abraham Lincoln)
If you’re not involved in any service or ministry, what excuse have you been using? God will use you, if you stop making excuses.
When you start serving God - JESUS has a new pair of eyes to see with, new ears to listen with, new hands to help with, and a new heart to love others with…
You are unique and beautiful… I love you ~ SB
+ You were created to serve God.
Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God and fulfilling one of your purposes here on earth.
+ You were saved to serve God.
It cost Jesus His own life to purchase your salvation. Through salvation out past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.
If you have no love for others, no desire to serve others and you are only concerned about your own needs, you must question whether Christ is really in your life.
Every member of God’s family is a minister. If you are a believer, you are a minister, and when you’re serving, you’re ministering. God has a ministry for you in His church and a mission for you in the world.
+ You are called to serve God.
Every believer is called to service. A ‘non-serving’ believer (or, as often heard, ‘non-practicing’ Christian) is a contradiction in terms.
Anytime you use your God-given abilities to help others, you are fulfilling your calling. There are no insignificant ministries in the church. There is no correlation between size and importance. Every ministry matters because we are all dependent on each other to function.
+ You are commanded to serve God.
Service is not optional, something to be tacked onto our schedules if we can spare the time.
Jesus taught that spiritual maturity is never an end in itself. We must act on what we know and practice what we claim to believe – we grow up in order to give out. (Serving is the opposite of our natural inclination – ‘serve us’ instead of ‘service’)
PREPARING FOR ETERNITY
At the end of your life on earth you will stand before God and He is going to evaluate how well you served others with your life.
At that point, all our excuses for self-centredness will sound hollow – for believers it will mean loss of eternal rewards.
If you aren’t serving, you’re just existing. God wants you to love and serve others unselfishly.
SERVICE AND SIGNIFICANCE
Service is the pathway to real significance. It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives.
God wants to use you to make a difference in His world. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of your life.
(And in the end it’s not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years. – Abraham Lincoln)
If you’re not involved in any service or ministry, what excuse have you been using? God will use you, if you stop making excuses.
When you start serving God - JESUS has a new pair of eyes to see with, new ears to listen with, new hands to help with, and a new heart to love others with…
You are unique and beautiful… I love you ~ SB
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Day 28 – It takes time
There are no shortcuts to maturity.
Spiritual growth, like physical growth takes time. God views our lives from and for eternity, so He is never in a hurry.
While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow. You can only give God as much of you as you understand at that moment. Your discipleship is the process of conforming to Christlikeness, your eventual destination, but your journey will last a lifetime.
Today we’re obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness. Real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving – the growth is gradual, through many epiphanies, struggles and battles.
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG?
+ WE are slow learners.
We forget the lessons God teaches us and soon revert to our old patterns of behaviour. Accordingly we need repeated exposure, to the same experiences.
+ WE have a lot to unlearn.
All of our bad habits and problems didn’t develop overnight; it is therefore unrealistic to expect them to go away immediately.
When you’re given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you will still have all the old habits, patterns and practices that need to be removed and replaced.
+ WE are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves.
The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced character defects keep us living in the prison of denial. You cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude.
+ GROWTH is often painful and scary.
There is no growth without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain.
+ HABITS take time to develop.
Your character is the sum total of your habits. To develop the habits of Christlike character, you must practice them – and that takes time.
If you practice something, over time you get good at it. Character building habits (spiritual disciplines) are the result of repetition – the mother of character and skill.
DON’T BE IN A HURRY
+ BELIEVE God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it.
There are seasons in your spiritual life. It’s fine to pray for a miracle, but don’t be disappointed if the answer comes through gradual change.
+ KEEP a notebook or journal of lessons learned.
Write down the insights and life lessons God teaches about Him, and everything else so that you can review and remember them and pass them on to future generations – reviewing your spiritual journal regularly can spare you a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache.
+ BE patient with God and with yourself
God’s timetable is rarely the same as yours. Remember that God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. He will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for your role in eternity.
Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering.
+ DON’T get discouraged.
A delay is not a denial from God. Remember how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go.
God isn’t finished with you, so keep moving forward!
Hurry up, and slow down… I love you ~ SB
Spiritual growth, like physical growth takes time. God views our lives from and for eternity, so He is never in a hurry.
While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow. You can only give God as much of you as you understand at that moment. Your discipleship is the process of conforming to Christlikeness, your eventual destination, but your journey will last a lifetime.
Today we’re obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness. Real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving – the growth is gradual, through many epiphanies, struggles and battles.
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG?
+ WE are slow learners.
We forget the lessons God teaches us and soon revert to our old patterns of behaviour. Accordingly we need repeated exposure, to the same experiences.
+ WE have a lot to unlearn.
All of our bad habits and problems didn’t develop overnight; it is therefore unrealistic to expect them to go away immediately.
When you’re given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you will still have all the old habits, patterns and practices that need to be removed and replaced.
+ WE are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves.
The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced character defects keep us living in the prison of denial. You cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude.
+ GROWTH is often painful and scary.
There is no growth without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain.
+ HABITS take time to develop.
Your character is the sum total of your habits. To develop the habits of Christlike character, you must practice them – and that takes time.
If you practice something, over time you get good at it. Character building habits (spiritual disciplines) are the result of repetition – the mother of character and skill.
DON’T BE IN A HURRY
+ BELIEVE God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it.
There are seasons in your spiritual life. It’s fine to pray for a miracle, but don’t be disappointed if the answer comes through gradual change.
+ KEEP a notebook or journal of lessons learned.
Write down the insights and life lessons God teaches about Him, and everything else so that you can review and remember them and pass them on to future generations – reviewing your spiritual journal regularly can spare you a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache.
+ BE patient with God and with yourself
God’s timetable is rarely the same as yours. Remember that God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. He will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for your role in eternity.
Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering.
+ DON’T get discouraged.
A delay is not a denial from God. Remember how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go.
God isn’t finished with you, so keep moving forward!
Hurry up, and slow down… I love you ~ SB
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Day 27 – Defeating temptation
There is always a way out.
God will not permit any temptation that you cannot overcome – that a temptation may be too overpowering for you to bear, is a lie from Satan.
REFOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON SOMETHING ELSE
Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. Since temptation always begins with a thought, the quickest way to neutralize its allure is to turn your attention to something else – change the channel of your mind, get interested in another idea.
The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind. Whatever gets your attention will get you.
The more you think about something the stronger it takes hold of you. Temptation begins by capturing your attention; attention arouses your emotions; emotions activate your behaviour.
Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don’t argue with it, just hang up!
Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ. Keep your mind occupied with God’s Word and other good thoughts. (I am fortunate to have in my life one person I trust and love explicitly – all my bad or questionable thoughts vanish by refocusing there – I really must try and focus on God’s Word more, too!)
It may take a lifetime, but with the help of the Holy Spirit you can reprogram the way you think.
REVEAL YOUR STRUGGLE TO A GODLY FRIEND (OR SUPPORT GROUP)
You need at least one person you can honestly share your struggle with. Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable.
Don’t repress it; confess it! Don’t conceal it; revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing.
Satan wants you to think that your sins and temptations are unique, so you must keep them secret. The truth is this that whatever you can’t (or won’t) talk about is already out of control in your life!
Willpower and personal resolutions aren’t enough. When we do what God wants us to do by admitting our struggles to a Godly friend; we experience great relief and liberation, the pressure valve is released and we see hope for the future.
RESIST THE DEVIL
Believers are often compared to soldiers serving in enemy territory.
+ You won’t be able to say no to the Devil unless you’ve said yes to Christ.
+ Use the Word of God as your weapon against Satan – quoting Scripture (the truth of God) from memory makes him tremble. (Don’t try and argue with the Devil, he’s better than you at it; has had thousands of years to practice) If you don’t have any Bible verses memorized, you’ve got no bullets in your gun.
REALIZE YOUR VULNERABILITY
Don’t get cocky and overconfident – given the right circumstances, any of us are capable of any sin – never let your guard down and think you’re beyond it.
Remember that it is easier to stay out of temptation than to get out of it!
Forget about self-confidence, it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence!
Stay strong… I love you ~ SB
God will not permit any temptation that you cannot overcome – that a temptation may be too overpowering for you to bear, is a lie from Satan.
REFOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON SOMETHING ELSE
Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. Since temptation always begins with a thought, the quickest way to neutralize its allure is to turn your attention to something else – change the channel of your mind, get interested in another idea.
The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind. Whatever gets your attention will get you.
The more you think about something the stronger it takes hold of you. Temptation begins by capturing your attention; attention arouses your emotions; emotions activate your behaviour.
Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don’t argue with it, just hang up!
Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ. Keep your mind occupied with God’s Word and other good thoughts. (I am fortunate to have in my life one person I trust and love explicitly – all my bad or questionable thoughts vanish by refocusing there – I really must try and focus on God’s Word more, too!)
It may take a lifetime, but with the help of the Holy Spirit you can reprogram the way you think.
REVEAL YOUR STRUGGLE TO A GODLY FRIEND (OR SUPPORT GROUP)
You need at least one person you can honestly share your struggle with. Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable.
Don’t repress it; confess it! Don’t conceal it; revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing.
Satan wants you to think that your sins and temptations are unique, so you must keep them secret. The truth is this that whatever you can’t (or won’t) talk about is already out of control in your life!
Willpower and personal resolutions aren’t enough. When we do what God wants us to do by admitting our struggles to a Godly friend; we experience great relief and liberation, the pressure valve is released and we see hope for the future.
RESIST THE DEVIL
Believers are often compared to soldiers serving in enemy territory.
+ You won’t be able to say no to the Devil unless you’ve said yes to Christ.
+ Use the Word of God as your weapon against Satan – quoting Scripture (the truth of God) from memory makes him tremble. (Don’t try and argue with the Devil, he’s better than you at it; has had thousands of years to practice) If you don’t have any Bible verses memorized, you’ve got no bullets in your gun.
REALIZE YOUR VULNERABILITY
Don’t get cocky and overconfident – given the right circumstances, any of us are capable of any sin – never let your guard down and think you’re beyond it.
Remember that it is easier to stay out of temptation than to get out of it!
Forget about self-confidence, it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence!
Stay strong… I love you ~ SB
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Day 26 – Growing through temptation
Every temptation is an opportunity to do good.
Every time you choose to do good instead of sin, you are growing in the character of Christ. This character, in part, encompasses the Fruit of the Spirit:
~ Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.
To have the Fruit of the Spirit is to be like Christ. God develops the Fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you are tempted to express the exact opposite qualities. (Here, I am ‘tempted’ to include and emphasize the quality of ‘Honesty’ to the above list of spiritual fruits – I do however concede that it is inherent)
Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity. You can’t claim to be good if you’ve never been tempted to be bad. Every time you defeat a temptation, you become more like Jesus!
HOW TEMPTATION WORKS
It helps to know that Satan is entirely predictable.
Satan identifies a desire inside of you and suggests (by thought) that you give in to an evil desire, or that you fulfill a legitimate desire in a wrong way or at the wrong time. (Been there, done that!)
Temptation always starts in your mind, not in your circumstances.
Satan tries to get you to doubt what God has said about sin. You think, “Didn’t God mean this prohibition for someone else or some other time?” “Doesn’t God want me to be happy?” – Doubts make you turn to evil ways and away from God. (So important to have other believers to reflect with)
Satan is the master of deception. He will try to deceive you by telling you untruths and half-truths to get you to bend a little. But a little sin is like being a little pregnant.
Satan promotes your disobedience. You know what is the right and obedient thing to do – but toy with the opposite thought in your mind. Satan takes what began as an idea and encourages you to birth it into disobedient behaviour.
OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
+ REFUSE to be intimidated.
Many believers are frightened, demoralized, ashamed and overwrought by guilt because they realise that they are not beyond temptation – you will never outgrow temptation.
Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you, not a sign of weakness or worldliness. It is not a sin to be tempted. You can’t keep the devil from suggesting thoughts, but you can choose not to dwell or act on them.
Example:
God made every one of us a sexual being, and that is good. Attraction and arousal are the natural, spontaneous, God-given responses to physical beauty, while lust is a deliberate act of the will.
The closer you grow to God, the more Satan will try to 'temp' you – you are his enemy, and he’s plotting your downfall.
Even while you are praying, Satan will suggest a bizarre or evil thought just to sidetrack or shame you – he fears your prayers. Treat these thoughts as distractions from Satan and immediately refocus on God.
+ RECOGNISE your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it.
Some circumstances will cause you to stumble almost immediately, while others don’t bother you at all. Satan surely knows exactly which ones make you more vulnerable.
May be when you are tired or lonely or bored or depressed or under stress. Might be when you’ve been hurt or angry or worried, or even after a big success or spiritual high.
Identify your typical pattern of temptation – the Bible tells us to anticipate and be ready to face temptation.
+ REQUEST God’s help.
God wants you to ask Him for assistance in overcoming temptation. The Bible guarantees that our cry for help will be heard; because Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle – He faced the same temptations we do.
God’s infinite love is everlasting, and his patience endures forever. Ask Him for the power to do the right thing and then expect Him to provide it.
Temptations keep us dependent upon God. When you stumble – which you will – look up to God, expect Him to help you and remember the reward that is waiting for you.
Keep the faith… I love you ~ SB
Every time you choose to do good instead of sin, you are growing in the character of Christ. This character, in part, encompasses the Fruit of the Spirit:
~ Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.
To have the Fruit of the Spirit is to be like Christ. God develops the Fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you are tempted to express the exact opposite qualities. (Here, I am ‘tempted’ to include and emphasize the quality of ‘Honesty’ to the above list of spiritual fruits – I do however concede that it is inherent)
Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity. You can’t claim to be good if you’ve never been tempted to be bad. Every time you defeat a temptation, you become more like Jesus!
HOW TEMPTATION WORKS
It helps to know that Satan is entirely predictable.
Satan identifies a desire inside of you and suggests (by thought) that you give in to an evil desire, or that you fulfill a legitimate desire in a wrong way or at the wrong time. (Been there, done that!)
Temptation always starts in your mind, not in your circumstances.
Satan tries to get you to doubt what God has said about sin. You think, “Didn’t God mean this prohibition for someone else or some other time?” “Doesn’t God want me to be happy?” – Doubts make you turn to evil ways and away from God. (So important to have other believers to reflect with)
Satan is the master of deception. He will try to deceive you by telling you untruths and half-truths to get you to bend a little. But a little sin is like being a little pregnant.
Satan promotes your disobedience. You know what is the right and obedient thing to do – but toy with the opposite thought in your mind. Satan takes what began as an idea and encourages you to birth it into disobedient behaviour.
OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
+ REFUSE to be intimidated.
Many believers are frightened, demoralized, ashamed and overwrought by guilt because they realise that they are not beyond temptation – you will never outgrow temptation.
Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you, not a sign of weakness or worldliness. It is not a sin to be tempted. You can’t keep the devil from suggesting thoughts, but you can choose not to dwell or act on them.
Example:
God made every one of us a sexual being, and that is good. Attraction and arousal are the natural, spontaneous, God-given responses to physical beauty, while lust is a deliberate act of the will.
The closer you grow to God, the more Satan will try to 'temp' you – you are his enemy, and he’s plotting your downfall.
Even while you are praying, Satan will suggest a bizarre or evil thought just to sidetrack or shame you – he fears your prayers. Treat these thoughts as distractions from Satan and immediately refocus on God.
+ RECOGNISE your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it.
Some circumstances will cause you to stumble almost immediately, while others don’t bother you at all. Satan surely knows exactly which ones make you more vulnerable.
May be when you are tired or lonely or bored or depressed or under stress. Might be when you’ve been hurt or angry or worried, or even after a big success or spiritual high.
Identify your typical pattern of temptation – the Bible tells us to anticipate and be ready to face temptation.
+ REQUEST God’s help.
God wants you to ask Him for assistance in overcoming temptation. The Bible guarantees that our cry for help will be heard; because Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle – He faced the same temptations we do.
God’s infinite love is everlasting, and his patience endures forever. Ask Him for the power to do the right thing and then expect Him to provide it.
Temptations keep us dependent upon God. When you stumble – which you will – look up to God, expect Him to help you and remember the reward that is waiting for you.
Keep the faith… I love you ~ SB
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Day 25 – Transformed by trouble
God has a purpose behind every problem.
Jesus warned us that we would have problems in the world. Not all of them are big, but all are significant in God’s growth process for you.
Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days – when we’re in pain, we don’t have the energy for superficial prayers. (When your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you’re out of options, when the physical pain of illness is great – and you turn to God)
We learn things about God in suffering that we can’t learn any other way. Problems force us to look to God and depend on Him instead of ourselves. Everything that happens to a Child of God is something that He intends to use for good, even when Satan and others mean it for bad.
Romans 8:28-29 ~ “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them”.
(I feel so blessed that I was reminded of this promise at this point in my personal life – needed to hear that – gave me goose-bumps!)
BUILDING CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER
Every problem is a character building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fibre. Your circumstances are temporary, but your character will last forever.
God will take you through the same experiences Jesus went through including loneliness, temptation, stress, criticism, rejection; even the threat of death.
RESPONDING TO PROBLEMS AS JESUS WOULD
+ REMEMBER that God’s plan is good.
Whenever God says no to your request for relief, remember to stay focused on God’s plan, not your pain or problems. The secret of endurance is to remember that your pain is temporary but your reward will be eternal.
‘If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ you’ll be at rest’. – Corrie ten Boom
(I really love this quote)
+ REJOICE and give thanks
Notice that God tells us to give thanks ‘IN all circumstances’ and not ‘FOR all circumstances’. (God doesn’t expect us to be thankful for the bad, for the abnormal, for the hurtful, for evil, for sin, for suffering, or for their painful consequences in the world.)
The Bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord always”. We can also rejoice in knowing that God is going through the pain with us. God will never leave us on our own. (I reckon He intercedes by putting that special person, or persons, in our lives to navigate the troubled waters; of course His Holy Spirit is also always with us)
+ REFUSE to give up
Be patient and persistent. Character building is a slow process.
You know you are maturing when you begin to see the Hand of God in random, baffling and seemingly pointless circumstances of life. (I know this feeling well – the reverie, I mean)
Don’t ask, ‘Why me?’, instead ask, ‘What do you want me to learn?’.
TRUST GOD. Don’t give up – grow up!
Hard truths… I love you ~ SB
Jesus warned us that we would have problems in the world. Not all of them are big, but all are significant in God’s growth process for you.
Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days – when we’re in pain, we don’t have the energy for superficial prayers. (When your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you’re out of options, when the physical pain of illness is great – and you turn to God)
We learn things about God in suffering that we can’t learn any other way. Problems force us to look to God and depend on Him instead of ourselves. Everything that happens to a Child of God is something that He intends to use for good, even when Satan and others mean it for bad.
Romans 8:28-29 ~ “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them”.
(I feel so blessed that I was reminded of this promise at this point in my personal life – needed to hear that – gave me goose-bumps!)
BUILDING CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER
Every problem is a character building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fibre. Your circumstances are temporary, but your character will last forever.
God will take you through the same experiences Jesus went through including loneliness, temptation, stress, criticism, rejection; even the threat of death.
RESPONDING TO PROBLEMS AS JESUS WOULD
+ REMEMBER that God’s plan is good.
Whenever God says no to your request for relief, remember to stay focused on God’s plan, not your pain or problems. The secret of endurance is to remember that your pain is temporary but your reward will be eternal.
‘If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ you’ll be at rest’. – Corrie ten Boom
(I really love this quote)
+ REJOICE and give thanks
Notice that God tells us to give thanks ‘IN all circumstances’ and not ‘FOR all circumstances’. (God doesn’t expect us to be thankful for the bad, for the abnormal, for the hurtful, for evil, for sin, for suffering, or for their painful consequences in the world.)
The Bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord always”. We can also rejoice in knowing that God is going through the pain with us. God will never leave us on our own. (I reckon He intercedes by putting that special person, or persons, in our lives to navigate the troubled waters; of course His Holy Spirit is also always with us)
+ REFUSE to give up
Be patient and persistent. Character building is a slow process.
You know you are maturing when you begin to see the Hand of God in random, baffling and seemingly pointless circumstances of life. (I know this feeling well – the reverie, I mean)
Don’t ask, ‘Why me?’, instead ask, ‘What do you want me to learn?’.
TRUST GOD. Don’t give up – grow up!
Hard truths… I love you ~ SB
Day 24 – Transformed by truth
The truth transforms us.
To become like Jesus, we must fill our lives with His Word. When God speaks, things change – creation exists because “God said it”.
The Bible is more than a doctrinal guide book – it is the manifestation of God’s Word. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us like the Son of God. God’s Word is the Spiritual nourishment we must have to fulfill our purpose here on earth.
ABIDING IN GOD’S WORD
+ I must accept its authority
The Bible must always have the first and last say in my life – we need a perfect standard that will never lead us in the wrong direction.
Regardless of culture, tradition, reason or emotion, choose the Bible as your final authority. (your permit / pass-card / written-authority)
+ I must assimilate its truth
1. RECEIVE God’s Word and accept it with an open mind and receptive attitude. God can speak through even the most boring teacher when you are humble and receptive.
2. READ the Bible - personally. Daily Bible reading will keep you in range of God’s voice. Keep a copy of His Word nearby and read it regularly (a reading plan will prevent skipping around the Bible arbitrarily and overlooking sections)
3. RESEARCH or study the Bible. Studying the Bible involves asking questions and writing down your insights. (write your thoughts on paper or computer) The secret of good Bible study is simply learning to ask the right questions. You discover far more by just asking the simple questions. (Who? What? Why? When? How? – I have about three Bible based software programs on my computer; and I am loathed to say I haven’t yet even explored their usefulness in this regard – I know they accommodate menus for typing notes, but I’ve only used them a few times when researching a particular text – gonna change that…)
4. REMEMBER God’s Word. Your capacity to remember is a God-given gift. If God’s Word is important, you will take the time to remember it – with enormous benefits. You can memorize Scripture anywhere. (I have a senior partner {look at me, too proud to say ‘boss’} at work that’s of the Moslem faith /persuasion. He always quotes scripture from the Koran covering a certain relevant topic; I always ‘counter’ with the equivalent verse from the Bible on the same topic, and sometimes the ‘counter’ escapes me – very frustrating… but it does urge me to go and find that Bible verse! – so not all bad…)
5. REFLECT on God’s Word – apply focused thinking, i.e. meditation. Select a verse and reflect on it over and over in your mind (remember? If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate!) Make daily Scripture reading a habit. Serious reflection on God’s Word and truth is a key to answered prayer and the secret to successful living.
+ I must apply its principles
Receiving, researching, reading, remembering and reflecting on the Word is all useless if we fail to put then into practice - internalize it and implement what you’ve learned.
God’s word exposes our motives, points out our faults, rebukes our sin and expects us to change.
Consequently, it is very important to discuss your personal application with other people. Other like-minded people will help you see insights you may have missed and help you apply God’s truth in a practical way – become a “Doer of the Word”.
Develop the habit of writing down exactly what you intend to do, which should involve:
Your relationship with God
Your relationship with others
Your personal character
The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives – IT IS THE LIVING WORD!
Have a blessed Mother’s Day… Love you ~ SB
To become like Jesus, we must fill our lives with His Word. When God speaks, things change – creation exists because “God said it”.
The Bible is more than a doctrinal guide book – it is the manifestation of God’s Word. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us like the Son of God. God’s Word is the Spiritual nourishment we must have to fulfill our purpose here on earth.
ABIDING IN GOD’S WORD
+ I must accept its authority
The Bible must always have the first and last say in my life – we need a perfect standard that will never lead us in the wrong direction.
Regardless of culture, tradition, reason or emotion, choose the Bible as your final authority. (your permit / pass-card / written-authority)
+ I must assimilate its truth
1. RECEIVE God’s Word and accept it with an open mind and receptive attitude. God can speak through even the most boring teacher when you are humble and receptive.
2. READ the Bible - personally. Daily Bible reading will keep you in range of God’s voice. Keep a copy of His Word nearby and read it regularly (a reading plan will prevent skipping around the Bible arbitrarily and overlooking sections)
3. RESEARCH or study the Bible. Studying the Bible involves asking questions and writing down your insights. (write your thoughts on paper or computer) The secret of good Bible study is simply learning to ask the right questions. You discover far more by just asking the simple questions. (Who? What? Why? When? How? – I have about three Bible based software programs on my computer; and I am loathed to say I haven’t yet even explored their usefulness in this regard – I know they accommodate menus for typing notes, but I’ve only used them a few times when researching a particular text – gonna change that…)
4. REMEMBER God’s Word. Your capacity to remember is a God-given gift. If God’s Word is important, you will take the time to remember it – with enormous benefits. You can memorize Scripture anywhere. (I have a senior partner {look at me, too proud to say ‘boss’} at work that’s of the Moslem faith /persuasion. He always quotes scripture from the Koran covering a certain relevant topic; I always ‘counter’ with the equivalent verse from the Bible on the same topic, and sometimes the ‘counter’ escapes me – very frustrating… but it does urge me to go and find that Bible verse! – so not all bad…)
5. REFLECT on God’s Word – apply focused thinking, i.e. meditation. Select a verse and reflect on it over and over in your mind (remember? If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate!) Make daily Scripture reading a habit. Serious reflection on God’s Word and truth is a key to answered prayer and the secret to successful living.
+ I must apply its principles
Receiving, researching, reading, remembering and reflecting on the Word is all useless if we fail to put then into practice - internalize it and implement what you’ve learned.
God’s word exposes our motives, points out our faults, rebukes our sin and expects us to change.
Consequently, it is very important to discuss your personal application with other people. Other like-minded people will help you see insights you may have missed and help you apply God’s truth in a practical way – become a “Doer of the Word”.
Develop the habit of writing down exactly what you intend to do, which should involve:
Your relationship with God
Your relationship with others
Your personal character
The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives – IT IS THE LIVING WORD!
Have a blessed Mother’s Day… Love you ~ SB
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Day 23 – How we grow
God wants you to grow – it is never too late to start growing
Sadly, millions of believers grow older but never grow up – they remain stuck in spiritual infancy.
Spiritual growth takes an intentional commitment to get started. Decide to become a disciple.
YOUR COMMITMENTS CAN DEVELOP YOU OR DESTROY YOU, BUT EITHER WAY, THEY WILL DEFINE YOU.
Every choice has eternal consequences, so you had better choose wisely!
+ GOD’S part and your part
Becoming like Jesus is the end product of making Christlike choices and depending on His Spirit to help you until those choices are fulfilled – letting go of old routines, developing new habits and intentionally changing the way you think.
Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit. It is growth through God’s Spirit working with you and in you.
+ Changing your autopilot
Behind everything you do is a thought. – Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
Willpower can produce short term change, but it creates internal stress because it is an unnatural state, and doesn’t deal with the root cause – your old patterns quickly reappear – Change your autopilot – the way you think.
THE WAY YOU THINK WILL DETERMINE THE WAY YOU FEEL; AND THE WAY YOU FEEL WILL INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU ACT.
To be like Christ you must develop the mind of Christ – You take on Christ’s outlook and perspective; thus stop thinking immature thoughts, which are self-centred and self-seeking.
Selfish thinking is the source of sinful behaviour – start thinking maturely and focus on others, not you.
“When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”
A believer’s life is far more than creeds and convictions; it includes conduct and character. Our deeds must be consistent with our creeds and our belief must be manifested with Christlike behaviour.
We don’t practice a religion or a philosophy, but a relationship and a lifestyle.
Thinking of others is the heart of Christlikeness and the best evidence of spiritual growth. – In humans this kind of thinking is rare, unnatural, untraditional (always looking out for no.1) and difficult.
FORTUNATELY WE HAVE HELP - “GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT” – SEEK ITS HELP!
Here’s to a more thoughtful day… Love you ~ SB
Sadly, millions of believers grow older but never grow up – they remain stuck in spiritual infancy.
Spiritual growth takes an intentional commitment to get started. Decide to become a disciple.
YOUR COMMITMENTS CAN DEVELOP YOU OR DESTROY YOU, BUT EITHER WAY, THEY WILL DEFINE YOU.
Every choice has eternal consequences, so you had better choose wisely!
+ GOD’S part and your part
Becoming like Jesus is the end product of making Christlike choices and depending on His Spirit to help you until those choices are fulfilled – letting go of old routines, developing new habits and intentionally changing the way you think.
Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit. It is growth through God’s Spirit working with you and in you.
+ Changing your autopilot
Behind everything you do is a thought. – Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
Willpower can produce short term change, but it creates internal stress because it is an unnatural state, and doesn’t deal with the root cause – your old patterns quickly reappear – Change your autopilot – the way you think.
THE WAY YOU THINK WILL DETERMINE THE WAY YOU FEEL; AND THE WAY YOU FEEL WILL INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU ACT.
To be like Christ you must develop the mind of Christ – You take on Christ’s outlook and perspective; thus stop thinking immature thoughts, which are self-centred and self-seeking.
Selfish thinking is the source of sinful behaviour – start thinking maturely and focus on others, not you.
“When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”
A believer’s life is far more than creeds and convictions; it includes conduct and character. Our deeds must be consistent with our creeds and our belief must be manifested with Christlike behaviour.
We don’t practice a religion or a philosophy, but a relationship and a lifestyle.
Thinking of others is the heart of Christlikeness and the best evidence of spiritual growth. – In humans this kind of thinking is rare, unnatural, untraditional (always looking out for no.1) and difficult.
FORTUNATELY WE HAVE HELP - “GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT” – SEEK ITS HELP!
Here’s to a more thoughtful day… Love you ~ SB
Friday, May 06, 2011
Day 22 – Created to become like Christ
You were created to become like Christ.
In all of creation, only human beings are ‘made in the image of God”. This means we are spiritual beings (immortal spirits/souls), we are intellectual beings (possess thought and reason – debatable in some), we are rational (reciprocate love) and we have moral consciousness (discern right from wrong) – and all these make us accountable to God.
But the image is incomplete and has been damaged and distorted by sin – So God sent Jesus on a mission to restore the full image that we have lost.
God wants His children to bear His image and likeness – to be truly righteous and holy. God doesn’t want you to become a god; He wants you to become godly – taking on His values, attitudes and character.
He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ – (now don’t be alarmed) it is all about transforming your character, not your personality.
God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.
God is not your servant, and if you fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, either you will become severely disillusioned or you will live in denial of reality – You exist for God’s purposes, not vice versa. (However; it is neither God’s intention that you have to survive a miserable existence until you reach spiritual maturity – be happy in His service)
IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT’S JOB TO PRODUCE CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER
Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives – working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him. Christlikeness is not produced by imitation, but by inhabitation. We allow Christ to live through us.
+ WE must cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work
The Holy Spirit releases His power the moment you take a step of faith. Obedience unlocks God’s power; but you must make the first move; by doing the right thing despite your fears and feelings – in so doing you cooperate with the Holy Spirit and your character develops.
This effort has nothing to do with your salvation, but has much to do with your spiritual growth –
Firstly let go of old ways (bad attitudes, disobedience, judging others, excesses, etc)
Secondly change the way you think (allow God to direct your thoughts)
Thirdly we must ‘put on’ the character of Christ by developing new, Godly habits.
YOUR CHARACTER IS ESSENTIALLY THE SUM OF YOUR HABITS
+ GOD uses his Word, people and circumstances.
God’s Word provides the truth we need to grow.
God’s people provide the support we need to grow.
Circumstances provide the environment we need to practice Christlikeness.
If you study and apply God’s Word, connect regularly with other believers and learn to trust God in difficult circumstances, you’re sure to become more like Jesus.
True spiritual maturity is all about learning to love like Jesus, and you can’t practice being like Jesus without being in relationship (church/community) with other people – you cannot grow in isolation.
+ BECOMING like Christ is a long, slow process of growth.
Spiritual maturity is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life.
You are a work in progress and your spiritual transformation will take the rest of your life here on earth; and even then it won’t be complete. When Jesus returns whatever unfinished work on your character is left will be wrapped up.
God is more interested in building your character than anything else; who you are, not what you do. Therefore do whatever you do in a Christlike manner because you will take your character into eternity, but not your career.
Focus on becoming more like Jesus – other forces like peers, parents, co-workers and culture will try to mold you into their image. Sadly many believers have abandoned living for God’s great purposes and settle for personal fulfillment and emotional stability – That’s narcissism, not discipleship.
God wants to make us like Jesus before He takes us to heaven – it’s our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility and our ultimate destiny.
There is a long, hard road ahead - take courage, and give it all to Jesus - you’re in my prayers ~SB
In all of creation, only human beings are ‘made in the image of God”. This means we are spiritual beings (immortal spirits/souls), we are intellectual beings (possess thought and reason – debatable in some), we are rational (reciprocate love) and we have moral consciousness (discern right from wrong) – and all these make us accountable to God.
But the image is incomplete and has been damaged and distorted by sin – So God sent Jesus on a mission to restore the full image that we have lost.
God wants His children to bear His image and likeness – to be truly righteous and holy. God doesn’t want you to become a god; He wants you to become godly – taking on His values, attitudes and character.
He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ – (now don’t be alarmed) it is all about transforming your character, not your personality.
God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.
God is not your servant, and if you fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, either you will become severely disillusioned or you will live in denial of reality – You exist for God’s purposes, not vice versa. (However; it is neither God’s intention that you have to survive a miserable existence until you reach spiritual maturity – be happy in His service)
IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT’S JOB TO PRODUCE CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER
Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives – working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him. Christlikeness is not produced by imitation, but by inhabitation. We allow Christ to live through us.
+ WE must cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work
The Holy Spirit releases His power the moment you take a step of faith. Obedience unlocks God’s power; but you must make the first move; by doing the right thing despite your fears and feelings – in so doing you cooperate with the Holy Spirit and your character develops.
This effort has nothing to do with your salvation, but has much to do with your spiritual growth –
Firstly let go of old ways (bad attitudes, disobedience, judging others, excesses, etc)
Secondly change the way you think (allow God to direct your thoughts)
Thirdly we must ‘put on’ the character of Christ by developing new, Godly habits.
YOUR CHARACTER IS ESSENTIALLY THE SUM OF YOUR HABITS
+ GOD uses his Word, people and circumstances.
God’s Word provides the truth we need to grow.
God’s people provide the support we need to grow.
Circumstances provide the environment we need to practice Christlikeness.
If you study and apply God’s Word, connect regularly with other believers and learn to trust God in difficult circumstances, you’re sure to become more like Jesus.
True spiritual maturity is all about learning to love like Jesus, and you can’t practice being like Jesus without being in relationship (church/community) with other people – you cannot grow in isolation.
+ BECOMING like Christ is a long, slow process of growth.
Spiritual maturity is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life.
You are a work in progress and your spiritual transformation will take the rest of your life here on earth; and even then it won’t be complete. When Jesus returns whatever unfinished work on your character is left will be wrapped up.
God is more interested in building your character than anything else; who you are, not what you do. Therefore do whatever you do in a Christlike manner because you will take your character into eternity, but not your career.
Focus on becoming more like Jesus – other forces like peers, parents, co-workers and culture will try to mold you into their image. Sadly many believers have abandoned living for God’s great purposes and settle for personal fulfillment and emotional stability – That’s narcissism, not discipleship.
God wants to make us like Jesus before He takes us to heaven – it’s our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility and our ultimate destiny.
There is a long, hard road ahead - take courage, and give it all to Jesus - you’re in my prayers ~SB
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