| Author |
Message |
Melissa
Registered user
Username: Melissa
Post Number: 1531
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 9:46 am: |     |
Oh, NO!!! I can just hear it now....Rick Warren  . I got this from a friend today and found it so encouraging, I thought I'd share. I cannot verify the interview, it's from one of those lovely email chains, but the message is encouraging regardless, at least it is to me.
"Purpose Driven Life " author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California .
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.
I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.
God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness,"which is my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.
It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy
It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money ,notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.
First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?
Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.
That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD.
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Ric_b
Registered user
Username: Ric_b
Post Number: 691
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 10:08 am: | |
Regardless of any other comments for or against Rick Warren, one thing I greatly admire and respect about him as a Christian is his response to the money that his popularity has produced. Place this in the column of good fruit. |
Randyg
Registered user
Username: Randyg
Post Number: 354
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 11:43 am: | |
Melissa,
Thank-you for sharing these words today.
Today of all days, this is manna from heaven for me.
Grateful that you were moved to share,
Randy |
Dd
Registered user
Username: Dd
Post Number: 784
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 2:24 pm: | |
Melissa,
I, like Randy, needed this message today. Thank you for sharing it.
God, in His sovereign goodness, had me return to my Bible study this week, after taking a few weeks off. This week's study was on Romans 8:28-39. What a beautiful message and promise for all Christians to live the ups and downs of life with believing without hesitation or doubt.
Here are a few paragraphs from my BSF Romans notes that I would like to share (Lesson 16, Series II):
"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
"What is meant by "good"? That is an important question to ask, because if "good" means "rich", as some would like it to mean, then the text is not true since many Christians are not wealthy. The same is true if "good" is supposed to mean "healthy." Not all believers have good health. "Good" cannot mean "successful" or "admired" or even "happy" in the world's sense, since God asks many Christians to endure failure or scorn or very distressing personal experiences or severe disappointments.
What does "good" mean, then, if it does not mean rich or healthy or successful or admired or even happy? The answer is in verse 29, which says, 'For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.' The good is "to be conformed to the likeness of His Son,' in other words, to be made like Jesus Christ. It is impossilbe to think of a higher good for human beings. At the same time, seeing this allows us to see other not so obviously good things within the greater purpose. We can see how sickness, suffering, persecution, grief or other ills can be used by God for this good end."
Holding on to His promises,
Denise |
Taybie
Registered user
Username: Taybie
Post Number: 116
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 2:57 pm: | |
Hi everyone - I know there4 is a prayer forum for requests, but I figured my request would get more attention if I put it out here...forgive the interruption.
I have refrained from asking for prayer, because i have really been
devastated over all that has happened to me. as many of you know, i
took my mother in over a year ago, because my dad had gone to prison
and my mom lost the house. since then, i have moved 3 times, for
various reasons, including the threat of black mold making my mom
very ill. i was also fired from my long-time employer in october.
after i had gotten my dad from the half way house and helped him
secure his first job, i turned the house over to my parents. but,
after about a month, stemming from a disagreement, my parents put me
out. i had been homeless (sleeping in my car, friends' houses and
motels) for about a week and i was in a car accident! i just got my
first job (McDonald's) after four months and i am behind on my car
payments. a friend open his home to me, and so i have a safe place
to rest my head, but i feel so helpless. i am asking for prayer for
strength and for an increase in my faith. i have more financial
needs than anything and my family and i are definately no longer
close. i have forgiven them, i can sort of see God's plan, so i am
no longer bitter - just really broke. and after being used by my
parents since i got my first job at 12, i am depleted of trust.
please pray for me. i go to orientation @ McDonald's tonight and i
start tomorrow. a friend asked me if i was really that desperate and
i told her, i have no choice - i have to pay my bills, so i have no
pride. i have no pride. i no longer shake my fists at the heavens
screaming WHY ME???? I now kneel in prayer asking God "What would
You have me do?" it's all about perspective. if the Lord had not've
brought me out from under my parents - they would be using me still -
right now and He saved me from that, so if for nothing else than
that, i am grateful. Thank you for reading this and thank you for
your prayers. |
Helovesme2
Registered user
Username: Helovesme2
Post Number: 793
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 3:42 pm: | |
(((((Taybie)))))
So good to hear from you after all this time! Sounds like you've been through a LOT. Sounds like you have a good perspective on God. Hang in there!
Praying,
Mary |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 3336
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 4:22 pm: | |
Taybie,
My heart goes out to you at this time. I have prayed for you and have put you on my prayer list.
God is always awesome.
Diana |
U2bsda
Registered user
Username: U2bsda
Post Number: 436
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 4:44 pm: | |
Taybie, I'm praying for you!
Reading your post made me think of 2 Corinthians 9
"8And God is able to make all grace (every favor and [c]earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need [d]be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]." |
River
Registered user
Username: River
Post Number: 391
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 5:17 pm: | |
Taybie,
Praying for you, take courage.
River |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 5279
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 6:46 pm: | |
Taybie, I'm praying for you, too. As Rick Warren said in Melissa's quote above, "Difficult moments, SEEK GOD...painful moments...TRUST GOD...Every moment...THANK GOD.
Thank you for the quote, Melissa, and also for the quote from BSF, Denise. I agree with Rick that whatever may be said about Rick Warren, I admire his response to his sudden money.
Keep us posted, Taybie.
Colleen
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Melissa
Registered user
Username: Melissa
Post Number: 1532
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 8:40 pm: | |
Taybie, an honest salary is an honest salary, regardless of the employer. Honest work is honest work. Don't feel degraded or beneath some standard. Last I checked, starvation is pretty serious. It may not be healthy, but you'll have food . Soo sorry to hear of your struggles. I know a thing or two about those, especially having to walk away from hurtful parents. Email if you still have the address and let me know how you're doing. We all need friends.
Denise and Randy, I'm glad you were encouraged. I liked the BSF quote as well. I needed it in light of today's circumstances, and in longer terms of other things as well. Thanks for sharing.
(Message edited by melissa on January 18, 2007) |
Tricia
Registered user
Username: Tricia
Post Number: 49
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 10:00 pm: | |
Taybie,
I'am praying for you right now and will continue to pray for you. God is going to carry you through this, I know. You sound like a very special and strong person.
Tricia |
Susans
Registered user
Username: Susans
Post Number: 377
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 7:59 am: | |
Taybie,
I'm praying for you as well. God WILL work out everything for your good and as He has brought you out of use and abuse by your parents, He will see you through this as well.
Denise, I loved this week's lesson! Romans 8:28 is a favorite verse for me.
One thing our leader pointed out last Monday night was that we often don't pick up on the part that says all things work for good "for those who love GOD, and are CALLED according to His purpose". She said that we have all heard the cliche's "well, it will all work out in the end", and "all things will fall into proper place", but that is not promised for ALL, but for those who love God and are called for HIS purposes. It was an interesting perspective I had not thought of before.
Taybie, God does hold you in the palm of His hand. Nothing befalls us but that He does not know and He is watching over you. As Melissa said, it's honest work for an honest salary. I will pray for you that your courage fail not, and that your financial needs will be met.
Susan |
Taybie
Registered user
Username: Taybie
Post Number: 117
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 11:16 am: | |
thank you all. your words have truly blessed me. i hope you all understand now why i have not been out here in the last half a year. i trust that He will do just what He said He'd do - take care of me!
i love you all.
Melissa, I don't have an email on you, but you and anyone else is welcome to email me @ anointedamazon@yahoo.com Yah, I'm 6'1! An amazon if i ever heard of one!lol! |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 3349
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 11:33 am: | |
Taybie,
You have retained your sense of humor. That is good. When anyone cannot laugh at themselves it scares me.
I will continue to pray for you.
Father is Heaven, I am so thankful I can come running into your presence and jump in your lap to talk to you. You are our Father, The I AM. I thank you for Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Hold Taybie in your arms right now as she goes through this rough time. I know you will not drop her. Help her in all things, as only you know what is needed. Most importantly, keep her close to you. You promise to supply her needs. So I thank you right now for doing that.
You are always awesome.
Diana |
Taybie
Registered user
Username: Taybie
Post Number: 119
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2007 - 9:48 am: | |
thank you for praying Diana. god bless you
Shontay |
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