Just Continue That Thought...

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book,  The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For ? (p. 350). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Now we are only limited by our limitations when we aren’t honest about them or try to hide them.   But when we are honest about them then God can use them to bring glory to Himself.   But our dishonesty shows that our desire is to make us look good not Him. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4: 7 (CEV), “We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.”   God can do so much in and through us if we really accept that fact. Rick says, “Admit your weaknesses. Own up to your imperfections. Stop pretending to have it all together, and be honest about yourself. Instead of living in denial or making excuses, take the time to identify your personal weaknesses. You might make a list of them.”   Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (p. 337). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But we spend most of our time and effort and money on those things that can be seen.  We spend so much on our complexion, our looks, our outside but we let our stress, our worries slowly rob us of what really matters, those parts of our body that we cannot see. I went to a drug seminar at the University of Kansas and we were dealing with the problem of smoking and how it takes years off of our lives.  And they said that it would be easier to get people to stop smoking because it causes bad breath than that it will kill us.  It is all about our misplaced priorities. Rick says, “You have several prominent features on your body that you could live without. It is the hidden parts of your body that are indispensable. The same is true in the Body of Christ. The most significant servi

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For ? (p. 300). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) At certain times in our life, we stop and search for God’s call on our life and when we find that it seems He’s not calling us into fulltime Christian service, Pastor, Missionary then we head out and start planning our life for what we want to do.   But that is not the reason why we were created.   God made each one of us for a specific ministry.   You see He has shaped you to do something.   For some it is law, other’s teacher, some mothers, it might be to be a salesman or a policeman or even a writer, maybe computers, it could be a doctor or a nurse.   But He has create each one of us for specific tasks at specific times.   And as you grow they may change. Rick says, “He planned exactly how he wanted you to serve him, and then he shaped you for those tasks.” The Bible say

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For ? (p. 269). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) This is the way to start to handle a temptation.   Rick says, “Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. By resisting it, you actually reinforce it. This is especially true with temptation. You don’t defeat temptation by fighting the feeling of it. The more you fight a feeling, the more it consumes and controls you. You strengthen it every time you think it.” I know you have found that true.   I don’t want that donut but I really do.   I don’t want it, I don’t want it but I really do want it, I really do want it.   Will power can only go so far especially in spiritual issues.   Rick then says, “Since temptation always begins with a thought, the quickest way to neutralize its allure is to turn your attention to somethin

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (p. 266). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I love it.   The Enemy’s plan for temptation is to take us away from God but in reality it can drive us to God.   The Bible in Hebrews 4: 16 (TEV) says, “Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.” As Rick says, “God’s love is everlasting, and his patience endures forever. If you have to cry out for God’s help two hundred times a day to defeat a particular temptation, he will still be eager to give mercy and grace, so come boldly. Ask him for the power to do the right thing and then expect him to provide it. Temptations keep us dependent upon God. Just as the roots grow stronger when wind blows against a tree, so every time you stand up to a temptation you beco

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (p. 262). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) That is easier said than done isn’t?   Maybe you have a child that is going through those terrible two’s.   I mean the task of helping them through this difficult time of life can be intimidating can’t it?   Maybe you’ve just retired and you don’t know what to do now.   You now it seems have no identity.   Your work was your life but what do I do now?   Or you have a dream that you believe God has given you to do.   It is bigger than you are and you are really intimidated. There are so many things in our lives that can intimidate us even temptations that the Enemy brings across our path.   Rick says, “Many Christians are frightened and demoralized by tempting thoughts, feeling guilty that they aren’t ‘beyond’ temptation. They feel ashamed just for being tempted. This is a mi

A thought from Rick Warren (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (p. 259). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) It is so important to know the way the Enemy works but our focus needs to be more on God and what He wants.   But it helps to know how to defeat the Enemy when he comes and tempts us. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says in 2 Corinthians 2: 11 (NLT), “We are very familiar with his evil schemes.”   He has been using this method from the beginning of the Bible. He used it with Adam and Eve and because it worked he continues to use it. Rick says, “In step one, Satan identifies a desire inside of you. It may be a sinful desire, like the desire to get revenge or to control others, or it may be a legitimate, normal desire, like the desire to be loved and valued or to feel pleasure. Temptation starts when Satan suggests (with a thought) that you give in to an