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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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God Smiles When We Use Our Abilities™

God Smiles When We Use Our Abilities

by Rick Warren

In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on this passage:

"He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do" (Psalm 33:15 MSG).

After the flood, God gave Noah these simple instructions: "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything" (Genesis 9:1,3 NIV). God said, "It's time to get on with your life! Do the things I designed humans to do. Make love to your spouse. Have babies. Raise families. Plant crops and eat meals. This is what I made you to be!" You may feel that the only time God is pleased with you is when you're doing "spiritual" activities like reading the Bible, attending church, praying, or sharing your faith, and that he is unconcerned about the other parts of your life. Actually, God enjoys watching everything you do, whether you are working, playing, resting, or eating. The Bible tells us, "The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives" (Psalm 37:23 NLT). God especially enjoys watching you use the talents and abilities he has given you. God intentionally gifted each of us differently for his enjoyment. You may be gifted at mechanics or mathematics or music or a thousand other skills. All of these activities can bring a smile to God's face. You don't bring glory or pleasure to God by hiding your abilities or by trying to be someone else. You only bring him enjoyment by being you. Anytime you reject any part of yourself, you are rejecting God's wisdom and sovereignty in creating you. God says, "You have no right to argue with your Creator. You are merely a clay pot shaped by a potter. The clay doesn't ask, 'Why did you make me this way?'" (Isaiah 45:9 CEV). In the film Chariots of Fire, Olympic runner Eric Liddell says, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel God's pleasure." Later he says, "To give up running would be to hold him in contempt." There are no unspiritual abilities, just misused ones. Start using yours for God's pleasure. God also gains pleasure in watching you enjoy his creation. He gave you eyes to enjoy beauty, ears to enjoy sounds and music, your nose and taste buds to enjoy smells and tastes, and the nerves under your skin to enjoy touch. Every act of enjoyment becomes an act of worship when you thank God for it. In fact, the Bible says, "God generously gives us everything for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17 TEV). God even enjoys watching you sleep! When my children were small, I remember the deep satisfaction of watching them sleep. They looked contented, secure, and peaceful, and I was reminded of how much I loved them. When you are sleeping, God gazes at you with love, because you were his idea. Parents do not require their children to be perfect, or even mature, in order to enjoy them. They enjoy them at every stage of development. In the same way, God doesn't wait for you to reach maturity before he starts liking you. He loves and enjoys you at every stage of your spiritual development. You may have had unpleasable teachers or parents as you were growing up. Please don't assume God feels that way about you. He knows you are incapable of being perfect or sinless (1 John 1:8). What God looks at is the attitude of your heart: Is pleasing him your deepest desire? This was Paul's life goal: "More than anything else, however, we want to please him..." (2 Corinthians 5:9 TEV). When you live in light of eternity, your focus changes from "How much pleasure am I getting out of life?" to "How much pleasure is God getting out of my life?" God is looking for people like Noah in the 21st century—people willing to live for the pleasure of God. The Bible says, "The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who are wise, who want to please God&#8221 (Psalm 14:2 LB). Will you make pleasing God the goal of your life? There is nothing that God won't do for the person totally absorbed with this goal.

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America’s largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church.

Notice our new look? The Daily Devotional is still the same scripture study you love and trust. But we’ve changed the way it looks as it becomes a part of the new Purpose Driven Connection. Tell us what you think. Then visit PurposeDriven.com for more Christian guidance.

Missed out on one of the Daily Devotionals? View the online archives. Did someone forward this Daily Devotional to you? Get your own free subscription to The Purpose Driven Connection Daily Devotional, your daily inspiration via email.

Having trouble viewing this email? View the online version. You are subscribed as [email protected]. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. The Purpose Driven Connection Daily Devotional newsletter is produced by PurposeDriven.com. Have a question or comment? Tell us online or by mail at Purpose Driven Connection, PO Box 8108, Red Oak, IA 51591-1108 © 2009. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Read our Privacy Policy.

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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God Smiles When We Obey™

Wholehearted obedience is done joyfully with enthusiasm. The Bible says, "Obey him gladly" (Psalm 100:2 LB). This is the attitude of David: "Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey" (Psalm 119:33 LB). James, speaking to Christians, said, "We please God by what we do and not only by what we believe" (James 2:24 CEV). God's Word is clear that you can't earn your salvation. It comes only by grace, not your effort. But as a child of God you can bring pleasure to your heavenly Father through obedience. Any act of obedience is also an act of worship. Why is obedience so pleasing to God? Because it proves you really love him. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments" (John 14:15 TEV). ---------------------------------------------------------- Read it all here.

#e-devotional #pdl #rick warren

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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God Smiles When We Trust™

It took Noah 120 years to build the ark. Trusting is an act of worship. Just as parents are pleased when children trust them, your faith makes God happy. The Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). Read the whole article here. ------------------------------------------ God Smiles When We Trust™ by Rick Warren

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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BASKETBALL FREAKS

with the BXU BAD BOYZ™ mga addict sa CourtRivals and FantasyHoops Naglaro sa bahay ni Unstoppabel Danny Granger™

#basketball

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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friends™

Friends is a word we use every day But most of the time we use it in the wrong way Now you can look the word up again and again But the dictionary doesn't know the meaning of friends Now if you ask me you know I couldn't be much of help Because a friend's somebody you judge for yourself Some are okey and they treat you real cool And some mistake kindness for being a fool We like to be with some because they're funny Others come around when they need some money Some you grew up with around the way And you still grow close to this very day Homeboys through the summer, winter, spring and fall And then there are some we wish we never knew at all The list goes on again and again But then these are the people that we call... Friends, how many of us have been? Friends, ones we can depend on Friends, how many of us have them? Friends, before we go any further Let's be friends, they come in all sizes and shapes Try to count how many of them are we gonna make in a lifetime We don't know for sure how many like a child take to candy Massive or plenty, or dwindlin' if you live a life o' swindlin' And dealin' and wheelin' or takin' heroin like Weiland La vie en rosem c'est la vie take a pause Will it include me, myself and I with a clause? Applause, so selfish of myself To forget without friends, we be worthless We won't even worth____ Pardon my lingo, my stilo's kinda harsh We got to mingle, tickle them funny bones Makes it a whole lot sweeter Margarita, I be swayin' when I take the BJ Flaming Bikini Play Godini, that's what I say Friends, how many of us have been? Friends, ones we can depend on Friends, how many of us have them? Friends

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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"A friend means well even when he hurts you" (Proverbs 27:6 GN).

"A friend means well even when he hurts you" (Proverbs 27:6 GN). March 13, 2009

Jesus Gave Honest Counsel

by Rick Warren

In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on this passage:

"A friend means well even when he hurts you" (Proverbs 27:6 GN).

Jesus shows us that real friends care enough to confront. Even when it's painful, they'll tell you the truth (Proverbs 27:6 GN). They won't let you waste your life in silence. I've found that correcting another is powerful—and it can be dangerous. Done the right way, it builds people up, but done the wrong way, it can scar a person for life. The difference between the right and the wrong way to correct is your attitude. If all you're doing is pointing out faults, then stop. The purpose has to be to correct, not to condemn. You need to ask, "What's my motive in this? Am I correcting him for my benefit or for his benefit?" A lot of times we want to correct people just because they're being jerks and they're hassling us. We think, "If they would stop being such a jerk, my life would be easier." That's the wrong motive. Instead, follow Ephesians 4:15, which says, "Speak the truth in love." Love means giving people what they need rather than what they deserve. So this is the key to proper correction: Affirm the person; then correct the behavior.

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"A friend means well even when he hurts you" (Proverbs 27:6 GN). March 13, 2009

Jesus Gave Honest Counsel

by Rick Warren

In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on this passage:

"A friend means well even when he hurts you" (Proverbs 27:6 GN).

<table width="754" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="auto"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="194"><table width="649" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" height="88"><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: left;"><br><font style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;" size="3"><span style="font-family: lucida sans unicode,lucida;">"A friend means well even when he hurts you" (Proverbs 27:6 GN).</span></font><br><br><br><br>March 13, 2009</div> <div style="margin: 10px 0pt 3px; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-align: left;"><a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?VYGtvDn9kLSr6kW7r=3" target="_blank">Jesus Gave Honest Counsel</a></div> <div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">by Rick Warren</div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" align="left" height="40">In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on this passage:</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="54"> <div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">"A friend means well even when he hurts you" (Proverbs 27:6 GN).</div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td rowspan="7" valign="top" width="10" bgcolor="#6691af" height="auto"><img alt="" src="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/spacer.gif" width="10" height="5"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="733" align="center" height="25"><img alt="" src="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/ddimgs_05.gif" width="653" height="25"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="auto"> <table width="649" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; line-height: 18px;" valign="top" align="left">Jesus shows us that real friends care enough to confront. Even when it's painful, they'll tell you the truth (Proverbs 27:6 GN). They won't let you waste your life in silence.<br><br> I've found that correcting another is powerful—and it can be dangerous. Done the right way, it builds people up, but done the wrong way, it can scar a person for life.<br><br> The difference between the right and the wrong way to correct is your attitude. If all you're doing is pointing out faults, then stop. The purpose has to be to correct, not to condemn.<br><br> You need to ask, "What's my motive in this? Am I correcting him for my benefit or for his benefit?"<br><br> A lot of times we want to correct people just because they're being jerks and they're hassling us. We think, "If they would stop being such a jerk, my life would be easier."<br><br> That's the wrong motive.<br><br> Instead, follow Ephesians 4:15, which says, "Speak the truth in love." Love means giving people what they need rather than what they deserve.<br><br> So this is the key to proper correction: Affirm the person; then correct the behavior.<br><br></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="733" align="center" height="18"><img alt="" src="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/ddimgs_07.gif" width="653" height="18"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="47"> <table width="649" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; line-height: 18px;" align="left">Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America’s largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="156"> <table width="649" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="647" align="center" background="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/bg-box.gif" height="71"> <table width="626" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; line-height: 16px;" align="left">Notice our new look? The Daily Devotional is still the same scripture study you love and trust. But we’ve changed the way it looks as it becomes a part of the new <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?QYGtvDn9kLSr6kcn0Jyv=431" target="_blank"><em>Purpose Driven Connection</em></a>.<br> <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?U4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0Jyk=441" target="_blank">Tell us</a> what you think. Then visit <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?K4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0JyZ=451" target="_blank">PurposeDriven.com</a> for more Christian guidance.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="647" align="center" background="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/bg-box.gif" height="71"> <table width="626" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; line-height: 16px;" align="left">Missed out on one of the Daily Devotionals? View the <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?F4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0Jye=461" target="_blank">online archives.</a><br> Did someone forward this Daily Devotional to you? Get your own <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?O4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0JyT=471" target="_blank">free subscription</a> to <em>The Purpose Driven Connection</em> Daily Devotional, your daily inspiration via email.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="117"> <table style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;" width="650" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" align="left" height="23">Having trouble viewing this email? <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://p.p0.com/YesConnect/HtmlMessagePreview?a=XCMzF-%3Ctextarea%20style=%27width:558px;%20height:200px%7D%27%20id=%27hidden::form::body%27%20name=%27hidden::form::body%27%3E%3Ctable%20width=" 754="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="auto"></a></td></tr></tbody><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="194"><table width="649" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" height="88"><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: left;"><br><font style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;" size="3"><span style="font-family: lucida sans unicode,lucida;">"A friend means well even when he hurts you" (Proverbs 27:6 GN).</span></font><br><br><br><br>March 13, 2009</div> <div style="margin: 10px 0pt 3px; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-align: left;"><a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?VYGtvDn9kLSr6kW7r=3" target="_blank">Jesus Gave Honest Counsel</a></div> <div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">by Rick Warren</div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" align="left" height="40">In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on this passage:</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="54"> <div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">"A friend means well even when he hurts you" (Proverbs 27:6 GN).</div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td rowspan="7" valign="top" width="10" bgcolor="#6691af" height="auto"><img alt="" src="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/spacer.gif" width="10" height="5"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="733" align="center" height="25"><img alt="" src="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/ddimgs_05.gif" width="653" height="25"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="auto"> <table width="649" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; line-height: 18px;" valign="top" align="left">Jesus shows us that real friends care enough to confront. Even when it's painful, they'll tell you the truth (Proverbs 27:6 GN). They won't let you waste your life in silence.<br><br> I've found that correcting another is powerful—and it can be dangerous. Done the right way, it builds people up, but done the wrong way, it can scar a person for life.<br><br> The difference between the right and the wrong way to correct is your attitude. If all you're doing is pointing out faults, then stop. The purpose has to be to correct, not to condemn.<br><br> You need to ask, "What's my motive in this? Am I correcting him for my benefit or for his benefit?"<br><br> A lot of times we want to correct people just because they're being jerks and they're hassling us. We think, "If they would stop being such a jerk, my life would be easier."<br><br> That's the wrong motive.<br><br> Instead, follow Ephesians 4:15, which says, "Speak the truth in love." Love means giving people what they need rather than what they deserve.<br><br> So this is the key to proper correction: Affirm the person; then correct the behavior.<br><br></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="733" align="center" height="18"><img alt="" src="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/ddimgs_07.gif" width="653" height="18"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="47"> <table width="649" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; line-height: 18px;" align="left">Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America’s largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="156"> <table width="649" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="647" align="center" background="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/bg-box.gif" height="71"> <table width="626" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; line-height: 16px;" align="left">Notice our new look? The Daily Devotional is still the same scripture study you love and trust. But we’ve changed the way it looks as it becomes a part of the new <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?QYGtvDn9kLSr6kcn0Jyv=431" target="_blank"><em>Purpose Driven Connection</em></a>.<br> <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?U4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0Jyk=441" target="_blank">Tell us</a> what you think. Then visit <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?K4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0JyZ=451" target="_blank">PurposeDriven.com</a> for more Christian guidance.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="647" align="center" background="http://images.postdirect.com/master/11/1134430/bg-box.gif" height="71"> <table width="626" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; line-height: 16px;" align="left">Missed out on one of the Daily Devotionals? View the <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?F4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0Jye=461" target="_blank">online archives.</a><br> Did someone forward this Daily Devotional to you? Get your own <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?O4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0JyT=471" target="_blank">free subscription</a> to <em>The Purpose Driven Connection</em> Daily Devotional, your daily inspiration via email.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="733" align="center" height="117"> <table style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;" width="650" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" align="left" height="23">Having trouble viewing this email? <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://p.p0.com/YesConnect/HtmlMessagePreview?a=XCMzF-sjaxq-NaqNqmkdAoIA" target="_blank">View the online version</a>.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="left" height="23">You are subscribed as <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?c4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0JyI=481&s=1E9BD2EE-7356-4CA9-A69B-5F07AAD2955B&trkid=" target="_blank">e-mail preferences</a>.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="left" height="41"><em>The Purpose Driven Connection</em> Daily Devotional newsletter is produced by PurposeDriven.com. Have a question or comment? <a style="color: rgb(66, 124, 166); text-decoration: none;" href="http://links.purposedriven.com/u.d?a4GtvDn9kLSr6kcn0JyN=491" target="_blank">Tell us</a> online or by mail at <em>Purpose Driven Connection</em>, PO Box 8108, Red Oak, IA 51591-1108</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11px;" align="left">© 2009. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. 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#e-devotional #pdl #rick warren

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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The smile of God is the goal of life.™

"May the Lord smile on you" (Numbers 6:25 NLT).

The smile of God is the goal of life. Since pleasing God is the first purpose of your life, your most important task is to discover how to do that. The Bible says, "Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it" (Ephesians 5:10 MSG). Fortunately, the Bible gives us a clear example of a life that gives pleasure to God in the story of Noah. In Noah's day, the entire world had become morally bankrupt. Everyone lived for their own pleasure, not God's. God couldn't find anyone on earth interested in pleasing him, so he was grieved and regretted making man. God became so disgusted with the human race that he considered wiping it out. But there was one man who made God smile. The Bible says, "Noah was a pleasure to the Lord" (Genesis 6:8 LB). God said, "This guy brings me pleasure. He makes me smile. I'll start over with his family." Because Noah brought pleasure to God, you and I are alive today. Over the next few days, we will learn from Noah's life the five acts of worship that make God smile. Here is the first one: God smiles when we love him supremely. Noah loved God more than anything else in the world, even when no one else did! The Bible tells us Noah "consistently followed God's will and enjoyed a close relationship with him" (Genesis 6:9 NLT). This is what God wants most from you: a relationship! It's the most astounding truth in the universe: our Creator wants to fellowship with us. God made you to love you, and he longs for you to love him back. He says, "I don't want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don't want your offerings—I want you to know me" (Hosea 6:6 LB). Can you sense God's passion for you in this verse? God deeply loves you and desires your love in return. He longs for you to know him and spend time with him. This is why learning to love God and to be loved by him should be the greatest objective of your life. Nothing else comes close in importance. Jesus called it the greatest commandment. He said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment" (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV).

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#e-devotional #pdl #rick warren

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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Perfect Love Drives Out Fear.

perfect love drives out fear™.

#quotes #bible verse #memory verse

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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Losing Faith By Kezia Bechtoldt

Losing Faith By Kezia Bechtoldt (tnx sha2x for making a good insight) In bold, ringing tones – a front-page news piece More Americans say they have no religion, according to MSNBC: More Americans claim to have no religion at all Well then, Christian friend, what do you say to that? Will you simply shrug, raise an eyebrow, and say: Well, I haven’t lost MY religion yet … so there … You get so complacent in your Sabbath School best So fixated on your immediate human needs - your myopic view of the desperate requests made on your knees While all around, there exists a vacuum an onslaught of people falling into disbelief or apathy, as they nurture ever-growing one-sided obsessions with their credit cards, home mortgages, and retirement plans It is a slow but steady decline I’m losing my religion and no one’s the wiser No one, not even me … It’s a thief in the night – this long, slow slide … One day, you simply quit going to church Can’t stay awake long enough anymore … After all, what’s the point? I don’t like anybody there anyway … Then you stop believing in angels Insisting, instead, that America’s defense system is the greatest in existence You stop praying for peace and begin to advocate the strong-arming of guerilla’s in far-off deserts and jungles to submit – bow down – to the greater nation’s peace plan We’ll give you peace Just do as we say One day, you simply quit bowing your head for grace And at first, it’s okay, Because we’re in public anyway … No need to rub our religion in someone else’s face Later, you stop bowing your head for grace in your own home Well, it’s just the two of us anyway … We’ll pray tomorrow night – when the kids are home … And one day, you quit saying prayer to start your day Only crying out “God help me!” as your car hits another car then the center divide … and as glass shatters and cuts grooves across the skin on your face and metal crumples like an accordion that will never play again you’re found, much later, sitting beside the road with lights flashing all around and your first coherent thought is not "Thank you Lord!" But rather: Where is my cell phone? I need to call home … Really, no one faults you … after all, this is what rational people do … And one day, you simply quit pointing out “That is WRONG!” Instead – accepting the mantras of the day: Well, maybe there’s a gene for that … or Maybe creation is too fantastic to be a plausible theory … or Maybe Sunday’s as good a day as any … This is realistic stuff that can be PROVEN, after all … And if you say, But the Bible says … THEY cut you off with, Well, can you prove it? And so you keep your tongue because … Well, no one likes to sound crazy, right? With all these sneaking compromises - these slow, insidious build-ups of all the different ways a soul can stop the deepening of its belief and start falling back into rational thinking Is it any wonder that millions have no idea what to live for? You are powerful enough and have been given will enough to STOP THIS and yet … you continue – being laxidasical in upholding with conviction what is TRUE what is REAL and what is Biblically-correct Instead – you insist on being nice and current and standard issue more importantly, politically correct You play it nice and safe, and stay benign, You attempt to be a seeker-friendly, popular type of spirituality Treating faith and religion like a disease of the mind something archaic – out-of-date Only old people with their wagging tongues and disapproving ways would insist on such old-fashioned sensibilities Honestly, we’re far too cool for that! Oh no! You say to those who try to question your beliefs, I’m not the one who’s rocking the boat – So you try your very best to get as UNCONTROVERSIAL as you can get Well, really – is it any surprise that you have grown lukewarm and have been spit out, completely lacking in flavor? You are, very clearly, losing your way following the road signs on the choices you should never have made in the first place You have lost that burning desire - that essence that was breathed into your being the very day you were first given life You have fallen out of love but the good news is you haven’t fallen out of grace I’m losing my religion and no one’s the wiser No one, not even me … Well, tell me, Christian friend – Have you lost your religion yet?

#e-devotional #keziah bechtoldt

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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You Are GOD.

You, You Are God by Dan Wilt

(Based On "You, You Are God" by Walker Beach)

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary lifeyour sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering.

Romans 12:1a The Message.

If the Bible is about anything, it is about worship. Yet, the biblical paradigm of worship can be sometimes be diminished by each particular generations revelation related to worship.

In a season where the Spirit of God seems to be emphasizing Gods holiness, the Church responds with worship movements related to purity. In a season where the Spirit of God seems to be emphasizing separation from the worlds systems of thought, the Church responds with worship movements aiding believers in removing themselves from the idolatries of their age. In a season where the Spirit of God seems to be emphasizing a return to intimate and passionate adoration, the Church responds with a fresh wealth of musical expression to give wings to the worship of a generation.

For all of these great gifts and responses, however, each age of believers can become myopic, translating the whole of the Scriptures, and Gods activity in the world, through the lens of their particular revelation. Revelation is meant, as Matt Redman has said, to lead us to a response. Our response leads to greater self-revealing from God, and the circle of intimate communion progresses and deepens over the course of a lifetime. However, revelation is always meant to lead us into a bigger picture of what worship is all about never to an increasingly smaller one.

In the song You, You Are God, the lyics of self-offering are reminiscent of the timeless worship theme of Romans 12:1, our most expansive New Testament definition of worship.

I've come to find You, To be to You an offering.

If the early church understood the nature of worship to be about anything, it was about self-sacrifice. In the nascent Church, the believing community expressed a worship that was unequivocally political in nature. In other words, their worship proclaimed that there was a King that was above any emperor or self-proclaimed divinity calling himself Caesar. In that age, the politically charged acts of allegiance and surrender to Jesus would often lead directly to a real self-offering of a Christian at the hands of the government.

Today, among the ruins of an ancient city in Turkey stands a chariot stadium dating back to the Roman empire. Standing on ground where hundreds of believers would have professed their faith to screaming crowds almost two millennia ago, one is silenced and sobered by the idea of an utterly offered life. Shooting up through the grass in that very spot where martyrs blood would have soaked the soil centuries ago are brilliant red posies organic and fragile life triumphing in beauty over the crumbling architecture of man.

We offer ourselves in worship along with these ancient believers in songs newly sung, in lives marked by purity, in power that challenges our age, as we sing:

You are God, you are Lord, You are all I'm living for; You are King of everything.

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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Praise be to the LORD my Rock

"Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?" Psalm 144:1-3

#memory verse #bible verses

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cliffcrusher · 15 years

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Two Keys to Thinking Like Jesus

2009/03/02

Two Keys to Thinking Like Jesus by Rick Warren

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. Philippians 2:56 (MSG)

*** *** *** ***

The first half of this mental shift is to stop thinking immature thoughts, which are selfcentered and selfseeking. Babies, by nature, are completely selfish. They think only of themselves. That is immature thinking: "Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life" (Romans 8:5 MSG).

The apostle Paul wrote, "To be perfectly frank, I'm getting exasperated with your infantile thinking. How long before you grow up and use your head-your adult head? It's all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with evil; a simple no is all that's needed there. But there's far more to saying yes to something. Only mature and wellexercised intelligence can save you from falling into gullibility" (1 Corinthians 14:20 MSG).

The second half of thinking like Jesus is to start thinking maturely, which focuses on others, not yourself. In his great chapter on what real love is, Paul concluded that thinking of others is the mark of maturity: "When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good" (1 Corinthians 13:11 MSG).

Today, many assume that spiritual maturity is measured by how much biblical knowledge and doctrine you know. While knowledge is one measurement of maturity, it isn't the whole story. The Christian life is far more than creeds and convictions; it includes conduct and character. Our deeds must be consistent with our creeds and our beliefs must be backed up with Christlike behavior.

Christianity is not a philosophy, but a relationship and a life where we practice thinking of others as Jesus did: "Don't push your way to the front; don't sweettalk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand (Philippians 2:34 MSG).

Thinking of others is the heart of Christlikeness, and the goal of spiritual growth. This kind of thinking is unnatural, countercultural, and rare. The only way we will learn to think this way is by filling our minds with the Word of God.

"God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think" (1 Corinthians 2:12 CEV).

© 2009 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.

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#e-devotional #rick warren #pdl

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