Date Nights with God

Date Night with God
     It's a Saturday night, I am a 27 year old single girl, you would expect me to be out on a date or enjoying time with my spouse and kids. Instead I have been "blessed" with the stage of singleness in my life. I am in a transition stage in my life. I'm finishing up school and getting ready to apply to jobs all over the country. I have decided to not pray for a particular job but to pray for guidance and to go where God leads me. So, tonight I had a date night with God. I read through my devotionals and read through the rest of Romans. God is my date until He places another man in my life to help me grow in this walk of life together. In the last 3-4 months, I have spent a lot of time with God and have grown stronger in my prayer life and my bible reading life. I have learned more in the past 3 months then I have sense I first got saved. I have read several books as well to help develop myself and become a stronger christian. I have also partaken in two 24 hour fasts. I have learned a lot about myself as well. I still have a lot more to learn and develop into but, when I am ready I am confident that God will place the right man in my life to be my permanent "date". Until then I am contend with my date nights with God. Here are two quotes from my two of the most influential pastors in my life.

"Your best days can still be in front of you if you put God at the center again." Bill Purvis

"Out of our greatest misery often comes our greatest ministry." Brent Purvis

So if you are in a stage of singleness in your life. I challenge you to have some date nights with God. When you are feeling lonely, spend sometime with God. He misses you, He wants your attention. Embrace your singleness as lonely as it can be.


Jenn😘

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?