Purpose Driven Life - Day 3

DAY 3

Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to peace.

Verse: "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm
and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3 (TEV)

Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving
force of my life? What do I want it to be?

There are five common driving factors to life.

• Guilt
• Resentment and anger
• Fear
• Materialism
• Need for approval

It was amazing reading the descriptions of the driving factors. I am driven by all of these at different times. It is so humbling to see how far from the one true God my focus has become. There was a point in the book that I wanted to share.

"Without a clear purpose, you will keep changing directions, jobs,
relationships, churches, or other externals - hoping each change will settle the
confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think, Maybe this time
it will be different, but it doesn't solve your real problem - a lack of focus
and purpose."

Man oh man is this true. I feel like I have been spinning in circles for years now. I long to be a SAHW and eventually be a mother but I am fearful about leaving the workforce and falling into depression.

What's my driving factor for this job? FEAR! But, even if I change my job, my direction, I have to have a focus for where I want my life to be. A deeply rooted focus and purpose. I have not found that yet. I get really excited while I'm reading this book, I look forward to some help with my decision making and focus.

I get a little irritated with the different translations used in the book. I would prefer all KJV references, however, it has been fun figuring out which verse is being referred to and seeing if I can quote the KJV verse.

Don't forget. Enough said.

Purpose Driven Life - Day 2

DAY 2

Point to Ponder: I am not an
accident

Verse: "I am your Creator. You were in my care
even before you were born." Isaiah 44:2 (CEV) "Thus saith the Lord that made
thee and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my
servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen." KJV

Question to
Consider: I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my
personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?

This chapter took a lot of thought. I know God formed, made and created me but I struggle with my weight and have since I was 9 years old. I tend to be very abrasive in conversation and try to focus conversations on me. I need to hold fast to Romans 12:1

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is you
reasonable (logical) service."

I am fearfully (awesomely) and wonderfully made. I can have no condemnation. I can also bring my body into subjection to my mind. It takes a decision to begin to make a change.

Purpose Driven Life - Day 1

I have been floundering a little with what my true purpose in life is, so I have decided to work through Purpose Driven Life for the next 40 days.

There are points to ponder and questions to answer every day so I decided instead of making notes in one of my many many journals I would document my progress on my neglected blog.

Although I do not expect to agree with everything Rick Warren teaches and the variety of versions of the bible he uses, I believe I have a deep enough knowledge of the Word of God to filter the good from the bad.

DAY 1

Point to Ponder: It's not about me.

Verse: "...all things were created by him, and for him." Colossians 1:16b

Question to Consider: In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?

This chapter was very eye opening. One section of this chapter that blessed me and made me think was the following:

Many people try to use God for their own self-actualization, but that is a
reversal of nature and it's doomed to failure. You were made for God, not
vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for his purposes, not your
using him for your own purpose. "Obsession with self in these matters is a dead
end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life."
Romans 8:6 Message Emphasis mine

Romans 8:6 in the KJV is much more powerful "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." The point is made, however, that I can not focus on myself if I am going to find my true purpose.

It is really difficult to keep myself spiritually minded. I find it hard to let go of certain areas of my life and let God rule. I have a feeling this journey will be very helpful to me.

On the question about reminding myself life isn't all about me, I have been thinking about the amount of things I focus on and the material things in life that derail my endeavors to be a better wife and woman of God.

Advertising suggests that you can buy happiness and health. The reality is that God allows us to steward the material things we have and the bodies we were given.

One area I find television influences me is with shows like "Clean House" and "Clean Sweep." They make it look so easy that when I try to declutter and give things away, I get frustrated with how long it takes and give up.

Hm, how can I fix that? I have the tools to make my life better. What does the Word say? "Let all things be done decently and in order" "Let all things be done in moderation" "I keep my body in subjection to my mind."

Practical application of these keys is where I struggle. Not even the application, it is the consistency of application where I struggle. What does the Word say? "Faithful in least, faithful in much" "Let all things be done in moderation" "I keep my body in subjection to my mind, and my mind in subjection to my spirit."

Well, I think that is enough pondering today. : )

Another Giveaway at Simple Mom

I think Simple Mom has become one of my favorite web sites. She always has great, practical information presented clearly and with beautiful photos. She is giving away a HUGE gift basket and I have put my name in the perverbial hat. The deadline is tonight (Monday, August 25) at midnight but I thought if anyone reads this abandoned thing they would be able to sign up too.

Have fun and enjoy her site, it is very informative.

Rean

Giveaway at Simplemom.net

Simple Mom has been doing a wonderful series on budgeting (an area DH and I are always trying to improve on) and today she has posted a giveaway!

The giveaway is for a LIFETIME membership to Pear Budgeting. Pear Budgeting is a very cool, hip interface for your budgeting. One thing I think would be wonderful is the accessibility from anywhere there is an internet connection. So, head on over to Simple Mom and check out the series as well as the giveaway, I'm really excited about it.

Rean

Final test

And now, a picture from my phone.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Test (2)

This is just another test to check to see if pictures will post if I attach them to the email.

 

Spring training means baseball is right around the corner.

 

Rean Day

Test Post

Just a test to see if I can use my new phone to post on my (badly abandoned) blog.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry