Purpose Driven Life Day 40 and Summary

Day 40, June 9th, "Living with Purpose"

     - "Living on purpose is the only way to really live. Everything else is just existing." (Rick Warren). Proverbs 19:21 says, "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." We have to live with a purpose. Their are three basic issues people struggle with.
  1. Identity - Who am I?
  2. Importance - Do I matter?
  3. Impact - What is my place in life?
Through reading all 40 days of the book you should have a good idea of what your identity, importance, and impact are. Develop a purpose statement for your life and then review it regularly. Your purpose statement should summarize God's purposes for your life. It should also point the direction of your life, define "success" for you, clarify your roles, and express your shape. "Goals are temporary, purposes are eternal." (Rick Warren)

LIFE'S FIVE GREATEST QUESTIONS
   1. What will be there center of your life?
        - "Worry is the warning light that God has been shoved to the sidelines." (Rick Warren).
   2. What will be the character of your life?
   3. What will be the contribution of your life?
   4. What will be the communication of your life?
   5. What will be the community of your life?

GOD WANTS TO USE YOU!
   - Allow him to.

Point to Ponder: Living with purpose is the only way to really live.
Verse to Remember: "For David...served the purpose of God in his own generation." Acts 13:36
Question to Consider: When will I take the time to write down my answers to life's five great questions? When will I put my purpose on paper?

Summary
    - This book has been a life changer. I look at life differently. God has shown me some amazing insights through this book. I fully understand my purpose now. I would recommend this book to anyone and I would recommend reading with a partner or forming a small group and go through it. This book has helped bring me back to the foundation of my life. I will be reading this book every year starting May 1st. Review your notes from your reading and discuss it with others. Most of all, pray each day after reading it.

Purpose Driven Life Day 39

Day 39, June 8th, "Balancing Your Life" 
     - "Blessed are the balanced; they shall outlast everyone." (Rick Warren). I consider myself a very balanced person. I go to church, I do school, I work, and I have fun. Life is a pentathlon of 5 purposes:
 1. Love God with all your heart
 2. Love your neighbor as yourself
 3. Go and make disciples
 4. Baptize them
 5. Teach them to do all things
2 Peter 3:17 says, "You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing." We have to keep our lives balanced in all areas.

HABITS TO DEVELOP TO STAY ON TRACK
    1. Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group
        - You should discuss the principles of this book with a small group. "We learn best in community, our minds are sharpened and our convictions are deepened through conversation." (Rick Warren). Review the principles of this book as often as possible. Pray, encourage, and support one another in every area of life. "We are meant to grow together, not separately." (Rick Warren).
   2. Give yourself a regular spiritual check-up
       - We need to evaluate ourselves regularly. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith." The five vital signs of spiritual health are; worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry, and mission. Do a regular check-up and make sure you are "well" in each area.
  3. Write down your progress in a journal

       - Keep a spiritual journal and record all of the life lessons God has shown you. I've kept a spiritual journal for the last 5+ years. I need to review it more and learn from the lessons God has already taught me. Regularly reviewing your spiritual journal can save you a lot of heartache and pain. Hebrew 2:1 says, "We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." Writing things down and recording what we have learned can help us to not forget. Life is a journey. Record your doubts, fears, and struggles. Our greatest lessons come out of our pain. God uses pain to fulfill our purposes in life. "Every problem is purpose driven." (Rick Warren). Whenever you are going through pain realize that it is for a purpose and look to God to get you through it.
   4. Pass on what you know to others
       - It is important to pass on what we have learned through our hurts. Proverbs 11:25 says, "The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." Share the purpose in your pain with others so that they can learn from it. "Those who pass along insights get more from God." (Rick Warren). Sharing your pain with others can help prevent others from going through that pain. "The more you know the more God expects you to use that knowledge to help others." (Rick Warren). The more you grow in your faith the more God expects you to share.

IT'S ALL FOR GOD'S GLORY

Point to Ponder: Blessed are the balanced
Verse to Remember: "Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do." Ephesians 5:15
Question to Consider: Which of the four activities will I begin in order to stay on track and balance God's five purposes for my life?

Purpose Driven Life Day 38

Day 38, June 7th, "Becoming a World-Class Christian"

- Mark 16:15 says, "And then he told them. "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." Are you a world-class christian or a worldly christian? Worldly christians primarily look to God for personal fulfillment. They are self-centered and want to use God for THEIR purposes instead of being used for HIS purposes. World-class christians know they were saved to serve and are eager to receive an assignment from God. I don't know about you but often times I get in the mindset of the worldly christian and have to be brought back to being a world-class christian. Often times I want to fight the assignment God has given me because I don't feel fit for it. If we want to become world-class christians we have to change our perspectives and attitudes. The only barrier we have from become a world-class christian is the way we think.

HOW TO THINK LIKE A WORLD-CLASS CHRISTIAN
   - *Shift from self-centered thinking to other centered thinking*
       - 1 Corinthians 14:20 says, "Dear brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind." When you are having trouble with something ask the Holy Spirit to help you. When you are talking to unbelievers ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand their spiritual need. "Your goal is to figure out where others are in their spiritual journey and then do whatever will bring them a step closer to knowing Christ." (Rick Warren). As believers is is our job to help bring unbelievers to Christ. When you are having trouble talking to someone ask the Holy Spirit to help you.
    - *Shift from local thinking to global thinking*
        - Acts 17:26-27 says, "From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. 'His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him - though he is not far from any one of us.'" We should begin to pray for specific countries by name. "Like an intercontinental missile you can aim a prayer at a person's heart whether you are 10 feet or 10,000 miles away." (Rick Warren). You don't have to be in the country you are praying for. You can pray anywhere at anytime. We need to pray for opportunities to witness, courage to speak up, unbelievers, and the rapid spread of the message. We also should pray for the missionaries of the world. "People are most receptive to God when they are under tension or transition." (Rick Warren). I find this to be very true. Whenever I am stressed or going through a transition I feel closer to God. We need to reach out to the people in tension or transition and share with them the Good News.
    - *Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking*
        - We must maintain an eternal perspective and distinguish what is urgent and what is ultimate. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, "So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." We should never trade our life for temporary things. We need to invest on getting people to heaven. Spread the Good News.
    - *Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your commission*
       - If you are willing their is a way. Pray and ask God where He wants you. After reading this chapter I wake up every morning and ask God to show me who He wants me to witness to today. Jeremiah 1:7-8 says, "The Lord replied, 'Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!'" We have to go where God tells us to go and we have to do and say what God tell us to do and say. I am in Ohio temporarily for a reason. It is my job to do my purpose here and spread God's word. Do I really want to be in Ohio? No, but God has brought me back here and I will make the most of it until He calls me somewhere else.

Point to Ponder: The Great Commission is my commission.
Verse to Remember: "Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind." Psalm 67:2
Question to Consider: What steps can I take to prepare to go on a short-term missions experience in the next year?

Purpose Driven Life Day 37

Day 37, June 6th, "Sharing Your Life Mission"
     1 Thessalonians 1:8 says, "And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaea, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it." God has given us a life message to share. There are four parts to your life message:

1. YOUR LIFE LESSON INCLUDES YOUR TESTIMONY 
    - Your testimony is the story of how Christ made a difference in your life. How you came to Christ. It is important to share your personal experiences with the Lord with others. Sharing your testimony is more effective than a pastor preaching because people see pastors as "professional salesman" and we are the satisfied customers. Its also easier for people to relate to. "Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to theirs." (Rick Warren). There are four aspects to your testimony that you should talk about when sharing, what your life was like before, how you realized you needed Jesus, how you committed your life to Jesus, and the difference Jesus has made in your life. Their is a story for every experience God has helped you with. Use your different experiences to related to other people. One experience you have with God may reach one person and another experience may reach someone else. I've been through a lot of life experiences and lived in a lot of places, each experience I have grown and learned so much. I use these experiences to help others and reach unbelievers.

2. YOUR LIFE MESSAGE INCLUDES YOUR LIFE LESSONS
     - From our experiences with God we learn life lessons. Psalm 106:43 says, "Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin." God rescues us from things to teach us life lessons. "While it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others." (Rick Warren). We can learn from our experiences but it is even more beneficial if we learn from others experiences. If we share our experiences and others share theirs and we learn from each other we can prevent a whole lot of hurt and pain. We have to be open to learning form others and teaching others. Proverbs 25:12 says, "To one who listens, valid
criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry." Learn from other peoples experiences. Proverbs and ecclesiastes are filled with practical life lessons on learning. I recommend reading proverbs first if you have never read the bible. It is the original self help book. "Mature people develop the habit of extracting lessons from everyday experiences." (Rick Warren). Ask yourself these questions:
   - What has God taught me from failure?
   - What has God taught me from a lack of money?
   - What has God taught me from pain and sorrow or depression?
   - What has God taught me from waiting?
   - What has God taught me through illness?
   - What has God taught me from disappointments?
   - What have I learned from my family, my church, my relationships, my small group, and my critics?
Each one of us has probably been through each one of these experiences and God has taught us lessons through them. Tell unbelievers how God has worked in your life and what you have learned.

YOUR LIFE MESSAGE INCLUDES SHARING YOUR GODLY PASSIONS 
    - As you grow closer to God he will give you a passion for something He cares deeply about so you can be a spokesman to the world. Everyone has different passions. I am passionate for helping other people, whether it be my family, my patients, or strangers, I enjoy serving others. Serving is my spiritual gift and I'm passionate about it. What are you passionate about?

YOUR LIFE MESSAGE INCLUDES THE GOOD NEWS
     - Romans 1:17 says, "This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, 'It is through faith that a righteous
person has life.'" As christians we need to love lost people the way God does. 1 John 4:18 says, "Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love." We need to pray for people who don't know Christ, serve them in love, and share the Good News. The mission field is all around us. Ask God who you should share the Good News with and He will show you.

Point to Ponder: God wants to say something to the world through me.
Verse to Remember: "Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15b-16
Question to Consider: As I reflect on my personal story, who does God want me to share it with?

Purpose Driven Life Day 36

Day 36, June 5th, "Made for a Mission"

    - Each of us was made for a mission. We each have a ministry in the church and a mission in the world. Our mission is for believers and nonbelievers. "Your life mission is both shared and specific." (Rick Warren). One part of our mission is a responsibility we share with other christians, and the other part is an assignment that is unique to you.

THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR MISSION
    - Fulfilling your life mission on earth is an essential part of living for God's glory. Your mission is a continuation of Jesus' mission on earth. We as christians are to continue doing what Jesus started. Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." One of our missions is to share Jesus with unbelievers. If we reach just one person, we will be rewarded in heaven. Your mission is a wonderful privilege. As christians we are working with God and representing Him. Our mission is to help build his kingdom. Telling others how they can have eternal life is the greatest thing you can do for them. It is important for us to remember how hopeless we felt without Christ. A lot of people are hopelessly lost without God even if they appear to be content and successful. It is important for us to spread the Good News with others so that we can build God's kingdom. Your mission has eternal significance. The impacting of helping people find God impacts the external destiny of the people we reach. Nothing else matters as much as helping people find God. John 9:4 says, "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent
me. Night is coming, when no one can work." There is going to come a day when God returns to earth or we pass away and we will not be able to help anyone else get to heaven. We need to try and reach as many people as we can now so that we can build God's kingdom. We only have a lifetime to reach people. This doesn't mean we need to drop everything we are doing now and become evangelist. God needs people spreading the word everywhere. Spread the good news wherever you are. Look for people God places in your life to share the gospel. Your mission gives life meaning. "The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it." (William James). Acts 20:24 says, "But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." If you reach one person in your life it will make a difference in eternity. Pray to God and ask him who He has placed in your life to talk to about Jesus. God's timetable for history;s conclusion is connected to the completion of our commission. The question of when God is going to return is futile. We need to focus on our mission on earth. Matthew 24:36 says, "'However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.'" It is easy for us to get distracted and not share our faith. Satan will let you do all kinds of good things as long as you don't take anyone to heaven with you. When we become serious about our mission the Devil will throw diversion at us. He will do anything he can to distract us from bringing people to heaven.

WHAT IT COSTS TO FULFILL YOUR MISSION

     - We have to abandon our own personal agendas and accept God's agenda for our life. Ask God to help us do what He is blessing, don't ask him to bless what you want. "Hand God a blank sheet with your name signed at the bottom and tell him to fill in the details." (Rick Warren). We must surrender our life to God and let him take control. Romans 6:13b says, "So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God." Everything that you do, do it for the glory of God. Commit to fulfilling your mission no matter the cost and you will experience the blessing of God.

ONE MORE FOR JESUS
     - There is always someone else you can bring to Jesus. Live to bring people to Jesus.

Point to Ponder: I was made for a mission.
Verse to Remember: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Ans surely I am with you always to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
Question to Consider: What fears have kept me from fulfilling the mission God made me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the Good News?

Purpose Driven Life Day 35

Day 35, June 4th, "God's Power In Your Weakness"

  2 Corinthians 12:9a says, "Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weaknesses.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." God loves to use weak people. We all have weaknesses. We all have imperfections, physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual weaknesses. The important issue is what we choose to do with them. If we deny, defend, excuse, or resent our weaknesses it prevents God from using them the way he desires. Isaiah 55:9 says, "For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." God looks at our weaknesses completely differently then we do. He works in ways the exact opposite of what we expect. How many times in your life have you prayed for something and God gave you the exact opposite? I know for me it has happened a lot and eventually I understand why. God uses our strengths AND weaknesses for His glory. "Your weaknesses are not an accident, God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating his power through you." God is drawn to people who are weak and admits it. Matthew 5:3 says, "'God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.'" God uses us imperfect ordinary people to do extraordinary things. "God is never limited by our limitations." (Rick Warren). God will always use us if we let him work through our weaknesses.

ADMIT YOUR WEAKNESSES

    - It is important to admit our weaknesses and not pretend to have it all together. Show your weaknesses. Make a list of your weaknesses. In order for God to work through our weaknesses we have to first know who God is and second know who we are. Sometimes it takes a crisis for us to realize who we are and God won't hesitate to allow a crisis for us to discover it. I've seen this first hand with myself and with others. I grow closer to God in my times of trouble. God uses my weaknesses to help me grow.

BE CONTENT WITH YOUR WEAKNESSES
     - 2 Corinthians 12:10 says, "That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." God uses our weaknesses to make us stronger. "Contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God." (Rick Warren). Our weaknesses cause us to be depend on God. "Whenever you feel weak, God is reminding you to depend on him." At times you may be so satisfied with your life and you start drifting from God. God may place a weakness in your life to draw you closer to him. Weaknesses help prevent arrogance and keep us humble. God often times attaches a major weakness with a major strength to keep us in check. Weaknesses also encourage fellowship with other believers. "Strength breeds an independent spirit, our limitation show how much we need each other."  (Rick Warren). When we have weaknesses we depend on other people. Our weaknesses increase our capacity for sympathy and ministry. "Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts." (Rick Warren). Some of our most embarrassing and hurtful things are the most powerful tools God uses to heal others. God turns our weaknesses into strengths. Once we conquer our weaknesses they can become our strengths and we can use them to help other people going through the same situation we went through.

HONESTLY SHARE YOUR WEAKNESSES

     - The more we let our guard down the more God will be able to use us to serve others. It is important that we share our failures, frustrations, and fears. "Opening up relieves stress, defuses your fears, and its the first step to freedom." (Rick Warren). We need to be honest with ourself, others, and God. When we are honest with God he gives us more grace. "Our strengths create competition but our weaknesses create community." (Rick Warren). Sharing your weaknesses with others will help you have more of a community and fellowship with them. You have to decide if you want to impress people or influence people. You have to get close to people in order to influence them. If you don't share any of your weaknesses with people they are going to become discouraged and feel they are not good enough. If you share you are opening up and showing that you are not perfect and they can help you turn your weaknesses into strengths and support you.

GLORY IN YOUR WEAKNESSES

   - Romans 8:26a says, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words." When you don't know what to pray the Holy Spirit helps you. "When Satan points out our weaknesses, argue with him and fill your heart with praise for Jesus, who understands every weakness of ours, and for the Holy Spirit, who help us in our weakness." God also turns our strengths into weaknesses to use us more. God takes things away from us at times to show use us more for his good. What areas of your life are your weaknesses.

Point to Ponder: God works best when I admit my weakness.
Verse to Remember: "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9a
Question to Consider: Am I limiting God's power in my life by trying to hide my weaknesses? What do I need to be honest about in order to help others?

Purpose Driven Life Day 34

Day 34, June 3rd, "Thinking Like A Servant"

   - Philippians 2:5 says, "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." Service starts in your mind. If you are going to be a good servant you need to have a mental mind shift and change your attitude from negative to positive. "God is always more interested in why we do something than in what we do. Attitudes count more than achievements." (Rick Warren). Think about why you are serving, not what others will think of it. Real servants serve God with a mindset of five attitude:
1. Servants think more about others than about themselves.

    - "Don't think less of yourself, think of yourself less." (Rick Warren). Philippians 2:4 says, "Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." We need to forget ourselves in service to others. We need to stop focusing on our needs and become aware of the needs around us. "It's only when we forget ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered." (Rick Warren). It is important that we don't use service as a bargain tool for God. Often times we get caught up and try to bargain with God. If I do this then I should get this. It is important not to do that. Real servants let God use them for his purposes and not their own. "Self-denial is the core of servanthood."  (Rick Warren). Matthew 5:41 says, "If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles." Think more about others and less about yourself.
2. Servants think like stewards, not owners.

    - Remember that God owns everything. It is important that we settle the issue of money in our lives. Luke 16:13 says, "'No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.'" Wealth is not a sin but not using it for God's glory is. "Servants of God are always more concerned about ministry than money." (Rick Warren). God uses money to test our faithfulness. Luke 16:11 says, "And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?" If God can't trust us with worldly wealth, how is he going to trust us with the riches of heaven? God tells us to test him with our tithe. Malachi 3:10 says, "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, 'says the Lord Almighty, ' and see if I will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'" Tithing is giving 10% before taxes to the church. Every time you tithe God says he will pour out a blessing to you. He doesn't say it will be financial but he says he will pour out a blessing. I can personally testify to this. Every sense I have started tithing I have been cancer free. I will never stop tithing. It is so powerful. "How you manage your money affects how much God can bless your life." (Rick Warren).
3. Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.

    - It is important that we do not compare, criticize, or compete with others. We need to be too busy doing the work that God gave us to do to have time to compare ourselves to others. Romans 14:4 says, "Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive his approval." Don't judge others or compare yourself to others. In our society today this is hard. Social media makes it difficult for us to not compare ourselves to others. Real servants do not complain about unfairness. If you serve like Jesus you can expect to be criticized.
4. Servants base their identity in Christ. 

    - We don't have to prove our worth to anyone. Accept jobs that insecure people think are beneath them. Jesus washed his disciples feet. Any job you do is not beneath you. Only secure people can serve. Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others. I struggle with this one but have gotten a lot better in the last few months. It is important to not worry about what others think about you. Only worry about what God thinks of you. 2 Corinthians 10:18 says, "When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them." The closer you get to Jesus the less you need to promote yourself and get approval from others.
5. Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.

- Servants enjoy helping people and meeting their needs. Serving is the highest use of life. "The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve." (Albert Schweitzer). I truly enjoy serving others. I feel so fulfilled and time passes by so fast. Serving is my spiritual gift.

Point to Ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant.
Verse to Remember: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5
Question to Consider: Am I usually more concerned about beings served or finding ways to serve others?

Purpose Driven Life Day 33

Day 33, June 2nd, "How Real Servants Act" 

    - We serve God by serving others. God measures greatness in terms of service, not in terms of status. Our society has a "me-first" mentality. As christians we need to eliminate the "me-first" thinking in our lives. "God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you." (Rick Warren). Most all of us want to lead and not be a servant but to be like Jesus we must be a servant. Knowing your shape that God gave you is important but having the heart of a servant is even more important. "Without a servants heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain." (Rick Warren). God tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we're NOT shaped. "Your primary ministry should be in the area of your service, but your secondary service is wherever you're needed at that moment." A servants heart will reveal your maturity.

REAL SERVANTS MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO SERVE

     - 2 Timothy 2:4 says, "Solider's don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them." Rick Warren says, "When you only serve when its convenient for you, you're not a real servant. Real servants do what's needed, even when its inconvenient." We have to remind ourselves that we are all servants and we won't be frustrated with interruptions throughout our day. If you are at work and get interrupted to help someone, see it as an opportunity to be a servant, don't see it as a interruption or inconvenience. Your agenda will be whatever God plans for your day. 

REAL SERVANTS PAY ATTENTION TO NEEDS

     - We should always be on the lookout to help others. Galatians 6:10 says, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." "When God puts someone in need right in front of you, he is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood." (Rick Warren). Often times we miss our on opportunities to serve because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. We have to be willing to serve others on the fly and be sensitive to others because great opportunities to serve never last long. Proverbs 3:28 says, "Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you' - when you already have it with you." Don't put off something till tomorrow that you can do today. We need to do the little things as if they were the great things. 

REAL SERVANTS DO THEIR BEST WITH WHAT THEY HAVE

    - Real servants do what needs to be done now. They don't put off things that they can get done in that moment. Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest." We have to do what we can with what we have and wherever we are. You may not have everything you want of be where you want to be but you can still serve and be a servant with what you have. 

REAL SERVANTS DO EVERY TASK WITH EQUAL DEDICATION

    - Real servants to every task with all their heart. "You will never arrive at the state in life where you're too important to help with menial tasks." (Rick Warren). I have a masters degree but I worked in a hospital as a tech and I worked as a caregiver. These tasks are not below me just because I have a masters degree. Sometimes the menial tasks mean the most. Galatians 6:3 says, "If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." Do even the small tasks with a big heart. "Your servant's heart is revealed in little acts that others don't think you are doing." (Rick Warren). Do the small/not-so glamorous tasks and God will assign you whatever he wants you to do. "Sometimes you serve upward to those with anything, and sometimes you serve downward to those in need. Either way you develop a servants heart." (Rick Warren). Whether you are serving the president of the USA or the homeless man on the street, God sees them the same and each task should be done with equal dedication.

REAL SERVANTS ARE FAITHFUL TO THEIR MINISTRY

    - Real servants are trustworthy and dependable. Can you be counted on by others? God puts us to the test here and test our faithfulness. God will reward your faithfulness in eternity. Don't bail on someone or the church because you just don't want to or you are tired. Faithful servants never retire from serving God. 

REAL SERVANTS MAINTAIN A LOW PROFILE

    - Real servants are humble and maintain a low profile. They do not bring attention to themselves. They are humble and accept recognition if given it but do not seek recognition. Matthew 6:1 says, "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Don't do stuff to seek recognition. Don't serve for approval or applause. So many people on social media post things for attention or recognition. They enjoy the "likes" but we need to realize that God sees all that we do and we will be rewarded in heaven. We don't need others approval. Being in the spotlight blinds you. God put you exactly where you are for a purpose. "The most significant service is often the service that is unseen." (Rick Warren). 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that you labor in the Lord is vain." 

Point to Ponder: I serve God by serving others.
Verse to Remember: "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew10:42
Question to Consider: Which of the six characteristics of real servants offers the most challenge to me?

Purpose Driven Life Day 32

Day 32, June 1st, "Using What God Gave You"

    - "What you are is God's gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God." (Rick Warren).  God deserves our very best. He deserves 110%. We need to make the most of what God has given us. We should not worry about the abilities we don't have and focus on the abilities we do have. "When you attempt to serve God in ways you're not shaped to serve, it feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole." (Rick Warren). I experienced this when I was a teacher. Teaching is not what I am called to do, at least not at the high school level. I was forcing myself into a position that did not fit. We have to develop our shape to its full potential but first you have to understand what your shape is.

DISCOVER YOUR SHAPE
    - Ephesians 5:17 says, "Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do." Never accept a position without first praying to God about it. I have learned from experience on this and for my next job after I graduate, I will be praying and fasting for guidance from God. God will guide you and show you where he wants you.
*Begin by assessing your gifts and abilities*

     - Start by making a list of your abilities. Then ask other people what they think you are good at. Tell them to be honest with you and not try and tell you what you want to hear. "Spiritual gifts and natural abilities are always confirmed by others." (Rick Warren). Ask the people who are close to you what they think you are good at, they know you better than yourself sometimes. Look at areas of your life where you have been successful at in the past. The best way to discover your gifts and abilities is to experiment in different areas of service. What better way then to experiment then at your local church. You can discover what you like and do not like by serving in different areas of ministry around the church. We all have dozens of hidden abilities and gifts we haven't discovered because we haven't tried. It is important to volunteer in an area you are interested to understand if you enjoy that area or not. If it doesn't work out its not a failure, its an experiment. Just like with me and teaching. I now know I don't want to teach, its not a failure, it was an experiment. By teaching I discovered I wanted to be a physical therapist assistant.
*Consider your heart and your personality*
     - It is important to get feedback from those that know us best. Ask yourself, when do you feel fully alive? What do you enjoy doing? When does the time fly by? For me the time flies by at clinical's for physical therapy. I enjoy myself. Time flew by when I was with my ex. Time flew by when I hung out with his niece and nephew. What does this tell me, this tells me I will enjoy being a wife, I will enjoy having kids, and physical therapy is the career field I'm designed for.
*Examine your experiences and extract lessons you have learned*
     - "Forgotten experiences are worthless; that's a good reason to keep a spiritual journal." (Rick Warren). Having a spiritual journal has been so beneficial to me but I'm going to be honest I need to review it more so that I learn from my mistakes. We rarely see God's purpose in our pain. How often does this happen to you? I know for me it happens a lot. I rarely see God's purpose in my pain but I know there is a purpose. Pastor Brent Purvis at Cascade Hills Church in Columbus, GA said, the answer to prayer is often found in a problem. Often times the problem gets bigger but God is a never changing God. Somethings are answered differently, He may send us on a different route but we need to continue to ask God for what we want. His methods are not up to us. Sometimes God feeds us the same thing over and over until we are fully dependent on him. In my life I see this often. I have been praying for a spouse sense before I can remember. I'm almost 28 and have no one even on the horizon. I thought I was with the guy I was going to marry and then bam, God took him away from me. God answered my prayers with a problem but there is still a purpose in the pain. John 13:7 says, "Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'"

ACCEPTING AND ENJOYING YOUR SHAPE

   - We need to celebrate and accept the shape that God has given us. We also need to recognize our limitations. "When we try to overextend our ministry and reach beyond what God shaped us for, we experience stress." (Rick Warren). Teaching caused me the most stress I've ever had in my life. I had stress headaches constantly. Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God set before us." Satan will try to steal the joy of service from us in two ways:
   1. By tempting you to compare your ministry with others
   2. By tempting you to conform your ministry to the expectations of others
It is so important that we not compare ourselves to others. It's so hard to accomplish this with social media. Galatians 6:4 says, "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." When we compare ourselves to others we will always be able to find someone who seems to be doing a better job than us and we will become discouraged. We will so always be able to find someone who doesn't seem as effective as us and we will become full of pride. People who do not understand your shape will criticize you and try to get you to conform to what they think you should be doing. We need to avoid comparisons, resist exaggeration, and seek only God's commendation. If you are having trouble with comparing yourself to others, get off social media.

KEEP DEVELOPING YOUR SHAPE 
    - It is important that we cultivate our gifts and abilities, keep our heart aflame, grow our character and personality, and broaden our experiences so we our more effective in our service. If we don't use our skills we will lose them. We need to use the ability we have and God will continue to increase it. We need to stretch ourselves and learn all we can. We need to take advantage of every training opportunity. Go to that leadership conference. Volunteer at that soup kitchen. Read the personal growth books. Develop yourself to be the best shape God has given you.

Point to Ponder: God deserves my best.
Verse to Remember: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
Question to Consider: How can I make the best use of what God has given me?