Day 42: Congratulations!

Congratulations! You made it. I'm so excited to hear your stories and what this journey has been like. To know or be reminded that everybody has a life message. I felt so strongly, that this was imprinted in my heart when I heard Irena's story on Friday. For those unable to join us, Irena shared her story for the first time about being trafficked by her boyfriend. She had never shared her story publicly, but was brave enough to share in a very raw and real way, her pain, her experience and her hope.

God can take the ugly of this world, what the enemy has meant for destruction and turn it to good. You have a story, you have a purpose, you have a message. I hope that these 40 days have clarified for you that you have a purpose, that once embraced brings you into congruence with your creator and this brings joy, peace and passion to continue on this journey. The best is yet to come.

Day 39: thinking about this journey

I've been contemplating on this journey. I fell behind on my blog, but have continued to read, study and pray for a special breakthrough for each person that has committed to a change in their life. This isn't easy, it isn't for the faint or the weak, however our solace is that if we are weak, and most of us are, we need to find refuge and strength in our relationship with God. So, tomorrow is the big day... 40 days. Please tell me your experiences. 

Day 30: Shaped for Serving God

"The people I shaped for myself will broadcast my praises." Is. 43:21

I don't know if you've ever felt like something was missing, like you needed something more. You couldn't put your finger on it, but there it was, this ache of wanting something more. I believe there is an ache, when we live outside His purpose. When we are in God's purpose there is a synchronicity in our soul and our spirit. When we fight that, we are left in an uneasy, spiritual deficit, a hole, where we can find only fleeting joy or satisfaction.

Everything that God has given us, our interests, experiences, education, personality, talents, can all be choreographed for His honor and glory. Rick Warren gives us a lens to try and examine what is our ministry. He uses the acronym SHAPE to help us identify our ministry and service.

So Rick Warren asks "In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?"I love to teach, I enjoy connecting with people and hearing their stories and watching them grow. Though it takes, time and effort and it isn't always easy, it's something I passionately love. What do you love? Whether it's cooking or singing, art or woodworking, God can use you for his glory.

Day 29 : Accepting your Assignment

“Before I formed you in your mother’s body I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart to serve me." Jer. 1:5  Rick Warren Reminds us that we were created to serve God, that we were saved to serve God and that we were called to serve God. Sometimes we become confused about Christian service and believe that christian service is limited to church. However, most ministry occurs far from church, it occurs on the train and in your house, it occurs at work and at school. God has given you talents, abilities and gifts. Rick Warren reminds us that when we use these abilities we are fulfilling our calling. 

Today, our issue is that we don't want to serve. We want others to serve us. Some of us are victims to over-preparation, others are paralyzed by other pursuits and priorities so we never serve. In my experience when we step out,  put our own issues aside and help others we are encouraged, strengthened and find relief.  

So what is holding you back from accepting God's call to serve him? 

Message to the class

Hi All,

We are so near to the end of our 40 days. I pray that you have found this sudy to be challenging and encouraging. God has placed it in my heart for us to celebrate this journey together with a service. $0 is the number of change and in faith we are going to celebrate that change. On Febuary 23rd our class with be responibile for the service. I have asked some people to help lead the congregation to worship. I have also asked some members to sing. Minister Michelle Soto will bring the word that day. I also need volunteers to help us pray especially for this serivce.

Prayer Points:
*My prayer is that God may set us free, that He bring healing to the brokenhearted and He may bring clear direction for those that are looking for His direction.

*I pray that people be baptized in the Spirit.

*I pray that people be reconciled with God.

I need volunteers to pray and fast with me. I really have asked the Lord to use the 40 days to bring about change, for those that seek change, to clarify pupose for those that want to embrace thier purpose and to encourage us to continue on this journey.

If you have never fasted, fasting is abstaining from food for a period a time, it could be one meal or a day, where we use that time to pray, read the bible and think about God. I cannot do this alone. Please let me know if you are able to join in prayer or in fasting. Also, I encourgae eveyone that has particpated with us to come on Feb. 23 and invite family and friends to enjoy what will invariable be an awesome time in God.

Thank you

Day 24: Transformed by Truth

Many people ask, how is it that you become transformed, how is it that you grow spiritually? I think Rick Warren gives a clear path towards growth, I don't think it's the only path, but for those searching this can be a way. I spoke to people about how I learned about accountability, but I also remember clearly how I learned about the word. When I was 13 yo. every Saturday I would join my mom and 3 Sunday school teachers to study the lesson. They took their job very seriously and for hours would devolve into the Sunday topics. The looked in dictionaries and asked questions, they looked into doctrines and history, they debated about verses and fine points of the bible. I attended this group for years. I think until I was about 17, almost every Saturday without fail this was my pastime. Watching and eventually participating gave me a deep love for the word. 

"God's word is unlike any other word, it is alive. (Pg 184)" Rick Warren challenges us that the bible is alive. Some people treat the bible as an amulet. They keep the bible open in their house or in the car, but rarely if ever read it. The power of the word is in abiding in it, in living in it, in allowing the word to penetrate your life. Rick Warren challenges us to read the bible daily. I confess that I struggle with this feeling the pressure of raising 3 boys, but feel convicted to try my best. What has been my experience and what I do know is that the word is powerful, alive and a great weapon in spiritual warfare. 

I do agree with Rick Warren that in order to change and do as the word challenges us to do we must have a plan. Those of you that know me, know that I encourage people to make a plan and do something different. You want this, you want to change an area of your life, you are tired of the same old, same old, then "What has God already told you to do in His word that you haven't started doing yet?" 

For more resources check out www.purposedriven.com/day24

Day 23: How We Grow

Spiritual growth is an intentional commitment. I truly believe this. In my experience, so many of us are stuck, because we accept Christ and then think that it is over. We stay immature, in a spiritual infancy. We watch others around us and say why not me, why am I always struggling, why don't I have x, y or z. However, we fail to see that out spiritual commitment to growth is weak.

There are many areas in my own life that I have struggled, where I have been unhappy, but remained in that comfortable unhappiness, because at least it was familiar. Things did not change until I made the commitment to growth and change, the commitment to challenge myself, to constantly question myself and bring it to God. The questioning is not the indecisive, superficial questioning, but the deep questions of motive, commitment, true desire and the reality of looking into my own heart. Rick Warren reminds us what we have been wresting with, that the first step to spiritual growth is to change the way you think. The first battlefield is the mind. Paul challenges us to renew our mind, our thoughts and out attitudes (Rom. 12:1-2). The Christian life is more than going to church, singing songs or wearing a christian t-shirt, it's about a lifestyle of love of God and the love of our fellow man.

If you try to make these changes out of your own strength, you will fail. It's like a diet, a diet is a temporary fix to a deeper rooted issue. If you don't make long term changes, then a diet does nothing. It is the same spiritually, you might go to church for a few weeks or read your bible verse for two days or play your christian play list, but if you are not in a relationship with God that will change your lifestyle, it is a fleeting fad.

So what can you do to commit to growth? Rick Warren asks What is one ares where I need to stop thinking my way and start thinking God's way?

For more resources check out www.purposedriven.com/day23

Day 22: CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST

Huh, I ask myself why is today the challenge on thinking about becoming like Christ when I know that I have been short tempered with my boys, because I felt exhausted and just wanted them to listen? Isn't it often like this, that God chooses to challenge us exactly when and where we need it.

So, Rick Warren challenges us in terms of SANCTIFICATION. What is sanctification? It is the process of becoming more like Christ. We are declared to be holy, but we are in a process to match our life to that declaration. There is no quick fix or five steps or special prayer to get there, it is a painstaking, uncomfortable process that we must daily struggle through. Warren says that "God wants you to develop the kind of character described in the beatitudes of Jesus (Matt 5:1-12), the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), Paul's great chapter on love (1 Cor. 13) and Peter's list of the characteristics of an effective and productive life (2 Peter 1:5-8)." Yet, in order to develop these we must struggle like the caterpillar, that seemingly diminishes, hides in it's cocoon and must struggle to emerge.  Nothing of value is easy.

We have been challenged to embrace that our purpose in Christ. That we are created for his pleasure and glory, that we are to worship Him in all that we do and that our life is fulfilled when we find ourselves in Him. Yet, so many of us struggle so much, we asks how, what is the secret, how can I change. What I have seen is this, in my own power I am weak and unable to be the person I want to be. However, in Christ I am changed and transformed, merely by being in his presence, by seeking him, by fumbling in the darkness, towards the light. Instead of running away from God, I run towards Him, I bring him my failings and my fears. I call out to Him in song, in prayer, in poems. In my sadness and despair, I sit in His house, in my brokenness I worship with tears. I tell Him that I am weak and that I do not know how to go on and in that place I have received healing, direction and sanctification.

For more resources check out www.purposedriven.com/day22