Purpose Driven Life Day 25

Day 25, May 25th, "Transformed by Trouble" 

   - First off, I just want to say that this chapter has been my favorite chapter of the book thus far. It has spoke to me the most and has shown me a different perspective of my troubles. Through all the trials I have been through, this chapter is helping me understand them the most.
    - God has a purpose for every problem that we have in our lives. He uses circumstances to make us more like Jesus. Life is a series of problems. We all go through problems. Not all of them are big but, all are significant in God's growth process for us. 1 Peter 4:12 says, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." God uses the problems in our lives to draw us closer to him. Every problem we have is for a reason. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Often times in our darkest day are when we have the most intimate experiences of worship and feel closest to God. For me this is definitely true. When I am going through a rough time I draw near to God and feel a close intimate relationship with him. "It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most authentic, heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers." (Rick Warren). We learn things about God and ourselves through our suffering, we draw closer to God. Through my broken heart and suffering I have drawn closer to God then I have ever been before. I feel God's present more and I here his voice clearer. "Problems force us to look to God and depend on him instead of ourselves." (Rick Warren). Living in Arizona after my break-up, I felt very isolated and alone. I prayed more than I have ever prayed before. I read the bible daily and meditated daily. Sometimes God has to get our attention and problems are the only way that he can

get our attention. "You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got." (Rick Warren). For me I think I like being away from family and friends because it makes me draw closer to God, it takes me out of my comfort zone and makes me rely on God more. Now, I am not saying I enjoy being alone and not having friends and family around but, I need my own space and the times when I have moved away and did not know anyone, I felt the closest to God. Everything that happens to a child of God is filtered through God and he intends to use it for good even when Satan and others mean it for bad. Everything has spiritual significance in our lives. Romans 8:28-29 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." This does not mean that God causes everything to work out the way we want it to or that everything always has a happy ending. Only in heaven is everything perfect.  God can bring good out of the worst evil. Life events work together in God's plan. Everything that happens in our life happens for a reason and for a purpose. "God's purpose is greater than our problems, our pain, and even our sin." (Rick Warren). We have to go through battles to appreciate the great things in life.

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 fiber." (Rick Warren). I have been through a lot in my 27 years of life and every event has made me a stronger person, spiritual, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Troubles produce patience - patience produces character. God wants us to be like Jesus so he will take us through the same experiences he went through. We will go through
temptation, loneliness, stress, criticism, rejection, etc. Romans 8:17 says, "We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!" We go through both good and bad times but they are both to build christlike character.

RESPONDING TO PROBLEMS AS JESUS WOULD
    - We have to remember that God's plan is good, he knows what is best for us, he has our best interest at heart. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." When we go through times of trouble this makes it hard for us to trust in God's plan but we need to remember Jeremiah 29:11 and continue to meditate on it to get through the troubles. We need to focus on God's plan and not on our pain and suffering. It is all for God's good.
    - We need to rejoice and give thanks in his love, care, wisdom, power, and faithfulness. God goes through the pain with us and he will never leave us or forsake us.
    - We have to refuse to never give up. It is a slow process. We need to pray conforming prayers. Prayers like "Use this to make me more like you, Jesus" and not prayers of comfort such as "Help me feel good." "You know you are maturing when you begin to see the hand of God in the random, baffling, and seemingly pointless circumstance of life." (Rick Warren). Last Sunday, I went to church and I sat behind the young adult leaders at the church. I was nervous about going to the bible study because I didn't want to be the "old" adult. They talked to me about coming and told me I would not be the old adult and that they would love for me to come. That was all God, God placed me in that seat for a reason! We have to ask God what he wants us to do in every situation. When things go bad or we get in trouble we need to not give up we need to grow up!

Point to Ponder: There is a purpose behind every problem.
Verse to Remember: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Question to Remember: What problem in my life has caused the greatest growth in me?

Purpose Driven Life Day 22

Day 22, May 22nd, "Created to Become like Christ"

- God's plan has always been to make us more like his son Jesus. We humans are the only things made in God's image. All people possess a part of the image of God - but the image is incomplete and has been damaged and distorted by our sins. God sent Jesus to restore the full image. "This desire to be a God shows up every time we try to control our circumstances, our future, and people around us." (Rick Warren). How many of us try to control our future? I know I do. I constantly think of my future. Who will I marry? When will I have kids? When will my debt be paid off? Why can't I live in the present? If I'm not living in the future I'm living in the past. Why did my past relationships not work out? Why did I end up getting 2 degrees and am going back for a third to figure out what I wanted to do? Why, why, why? We, including myself, need to live in the present! God's ultimate goal for us is character development. His goal is to change our character not our personality. Life is suppose to be difficult, it enables us to grow. We go through each of the difficult times in our lives to help us grow. We exist for God's purpose, not vice versa.

GOD'S SPIRIT WORKING IN YOU

   - "It is the Holy Spirit's job to produce Christlike character in you." (Rick Warren). Sanctification is the process of changing us to be more like Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make changes God wants us to make in our lives. Sometimes he nudges us with a gentle whisper or a huge tug. 1 Kings 19:12 says, "After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." Often times the Holy Spirit just talks to us in a gently whisper or through someone else.

WE MUST COOPERATE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT'S WORK
    - Obedience unlocks God's power. We have to be obedient in order to have the blessings God has in store for us. God often times waits for us to act first, its how our character develops. In order to grow spiritually we have to actively participate. We have to make an effort to become like Jesus. Surround ourselves with people who are on the same spiritual path as you. Listen to music that will help you growth. Get connected with your church family. We have to let go of our old ways. Change the way we think and develop Godly habits. Post break-up I am struggling with this. I have such habits of texting my ex and its not because I'm holding out for him, its my crutch. It gives me comfort. I know I need to stop messaging him but I continue to do it, its my crutch. I will get there but why can't I cooperate with the Holy Spirit?

GOD USES HIS WORD, PEOPLE, AND CIRCUMSTANCES TO MOLD US

   - "God's word produces the truth we need to grow, God's people provide the support we need to grow, and circumstances provide the environment we need to practice Christlikeness." (Rich Warren).  In order for us to become more Christlike we need to read God's word regularly, connect regularly with other believers, and trust God in difficult situations. Trust is hard for me. God ALWAYS comes through for me and I have no reason not to trust him yet, still when I am put in a difficult situation I question God and its is wrong and sinful. Often times God uses people rather than miracles. He wants us to connect with others not just be in isolation of prayer and bible study. We need to have fellowship.

BECOMING LIKE CHRIST IS A LONG, SLOW PROCESS OF GROWTH
   - Spiritual maturity is not instant or automatic, it takes an entire lifetime to reach full maturity. We
are only finished growing spiritually when we get to heaven or when Jesus returns. God is more interested in what we are more than what we do. He looks at our character not our job description. We have to make an effort to become like Christ or the world will bring us down.

Point to Ponder: I was created to become like Christ.
Verse to Remember: "As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." 2 Corinthians 3:18b
Question to Consider: In what area of my life do I need to ask for the Spirit's power to be like Christ today?

Remembering EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON!

First off, I apologize for not writing for a long time but I have been through so many ups and downs. Good news is I have been in remission for 3 years now!!! I came to the realization today that I have a blog that is titled "Everything Happens for a Reason" yet, I struggle with believing that. Currently, I am going through a hard break up and I am learning to trust in God and trust in myself. Every day is a struggle for me. Each day I wake up and I feel the devil on one shoulder trying to bring me down and God on the other side picking me up. I was so invested and so committed to this relationship, I sacrificed so much and loved so deeply. I forgot a lot of the values and rules that God has given us, I lived with the guy before marriage. Now I know that living with your significant other before marriage is common these days but its not biblical and God's not going to bless the relationship if you do not follow the rules he has laid out for us. We are both christian's and knew better but due to our own selfish wants and financial gains for moving in together we lived together. Now I've learned my lesson and I will not do that again and I will seek God more and follow his laws that he has laid out for us. Don't get me wrong I do not regret the relationship at all I have learned a lot and I have grown a lot in many areas of my life. I am physically stronger and healthier. I am spiritually the strongest I have every been. Mentally I'm a work in progress as the ending to our relationship ended by him telling me that I am everything he wants in a spouse, I made him happy, but I did not get "God's vote in marriage". That messes with my mind a lot but I am working through it and will be stronger and closer to God with the battles I am facing. Financially he taught me so much from tithing to saving and eventually investing. I've learned that everyone comes into your life for a reason, a season, and a purpose whether good or bad. I have so many good memories and some not so good memories but the good memories far out way the bad. Thank you TJ for all the good memories, I am grateful you were a chapter in my life.

But here I am and I have a blog that is titled "Everything Happens for a Reason" but do I believe it? I'm struggling hard with that, this guy was everything I wanted in a spouse. I felt secure with him and he filled the voids I had. I had a warm feeling with him and now its gone. It's been about 5-6 weeks now and I have gotten closer to God and I'm learning a lot about myself and a lot about what exactly I want. I've been in a difficult situation sense he is deployed, I've been living with his family in AZ to finish school and again save us money while he is deployed. I am moving back to Ohio at the end of the week, finishing my clinical assignments for physical therapist assistant school, taking my boards and then I will see where God directs my life from there. I'm learning more then every to lean on him and trust in him. I struggle with once I am happy and things start going great in my life I stop spending my quit time with God. I feel when I am with a guy I get some idolatry going on with them and its not right. I need to also put God above all and lean on him all the time not just when I am going through a storm.

I've met some great people through social media pages and blogs and some old friends that are here to support me every step of the way and through every minute of the day when I need them. My family as well have been very supportive. A few songs that are getting me through these difficult times are "Every Storm Runs Out of Rain" by Gary Allan, thank you Brett Macy for that suggestion. Another song that was on my phone and came on when I got in the car all the time is "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue. Now, this song when I heard it would make me so angry because I would think of my ex and be like no your not by my side but one of my friends, Justine Carlson sent it to me in a email and it made me realize that this song isn't about a worldly man being by your side its about God being by my side through everything. All worship songs have helped as well but the one that gets me every time and has sense I was baptized is "Whom Shall I Fear" by Chris Tomlin. Whenever I hear this song I feel God's presence and I know that something good is about to happen in my life. It puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it.

I recently started rereading Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I have read it before and you are suppose to read a chapter a day and take it in journal about and talk about it with someone else. My best friend Liv Lawnick and I are doing it together and I am going to try to blog about it every week to show what I am learning and growing. There is 40 chapters and 40 days is very spiritually significant time period in the bible. God shows that 40 days is a spiritually significant in many ways. He shows whenever he wants to show someone there purpose he takes 40 days. A few examples of this is Noah's life was transformed by 40 days of rain and Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai. For the second time reading this I am going to go through it like you are suppose to a chapter a day for 40 days and see what God shows me. Now I think I know my purpose and through sermons I have heard throughout the years especially by Bill Purvis at Cascade Hills Church in Columbus, GA, I know what my spiritual gifts are they are serving. I feel so fulfilled helping others and having an impact on there life. It's taken me a long time to figure this out but physical therapy is definitely what I am called to do its just where? in what setting? in which state? and with what type of people? I hope to learn the answer to these questions over the next 40 days and the months leading up to taking my boards and applying for jobs.

Another friend of mind recommended some sermons to listen to to get me back to "baseline". I have only listened to 2 of the 7-8 he has recommended but they have really helped me understand EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. The two I've listened to so far are both by Rick Warren. The first one is titled "Winning the Hand you are Dealt" and the second one is titled "Transformed: Change your life by Changing your Mind". Both have been
amazing and I highly recommend listening to
them, they can be found on youtube. Also any sermon by Bill Purvis or Brent Purvis from Cascade Hills Church, they have a app or you can go onto there website and listen to them.

It's all about finding myself again! Finding Jenn. It's amazing how in one instance you can think you have your whole life figured out and in the next your lost. I will get through this and I will bounce back stronger and better then ever. God is bringing me back to Northeast Ohio for the time being and as much as I don't want to go back to my hometown and live with my family again, no offense family :) I'm just 27, I know God has a purpose for me there. I pray he reveals it to me. I think I know what is. I think I am suppose to help my sister get back in church and get saved. I think I'm suppose to help my brother's girlfriend find her purpose. God has a plan and it will be revealed. I know I don't want to stay in Ohio but he is calling me back there for the time being so I am going to embrace it. We will see where God leads me from there once I graduate and pass my boards. He's got a plan and I just need to TRUST HIM.