Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory. Romans 11:36
1. Everything created by God reflects his glory in some way.
2. God's glory is best seen in Jesus Christ. He is the radiance of God's glory. He came to earth so we could fully understand God's glory.
3. We are commanded to recognize his glory, honour his glory, declare his glory, praise his glory, reflect his glory and live for his glory. All because he deserves it.
4. In the entire universe, only two of God's creations fail to bring glory to him: fallen angels (demons) and us (people). "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
How can we bring Glory to God?
1. Through Worshipping Him
We worship by enjoying him. God wants our worship to be motivated by love, thanksgiving, and delight, not duty. Worship is far more than praising, singing, and praying to God. It is a lifestyle of enjoying God, living him and giving ourselves to be used for his purposes. The Bible says, "Use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God."
2. By Loving other believers
John wrote, "Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life." Paul said, "Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you, then God will be glorified." Jesus said, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
3. By becoming like Christ
He wants us to grow to spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is becoming like Jesus in the way we think, feel, and act. The Bible says, "As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more."
4. By Serving others with our gifts
Each of us was uniquely designed by God with talents, gifts, skills, and abilities. He didn't give us our abilities for selfish purposes. They were given to benefit others, just as others were given abilities for our benefit.
5. By Telling others about Him
Once we know the truth, God expects us to share it with others, to help others to discover their purpose and prepare them for their eternal destiny. The Bible says, "As God's grace brings more and more people to Christ,... God will receive more and more glory."
Point to Ponder: It's all for him.
Source: Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren
Apr 22, 2009
Apr 18, 2009
The Purpose Driven Life
The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder a waif, a nothing, a no man. Thomas Carlyle
1. We are the products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. God's purpose is not limited by our past. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero, and believe Him that He can do amazing things with the rest of your life, too.
2. Resentment always hurts us more than it does the person we resent. Remember that those who have hurt us in the past cannot continue to hurt us now unless we hold on to the pain through resentment. Let go.
3. Fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they are afraid to venture out and take risks. They choose to remain the status quo, which means a stagnant life.We must move against all kinds of fears with the weapon of faith and love.
4. Possessions only provide temporary happiness. God says the most valuable things in life are not things. A relationship with God is one thing no one can ever take from us.
5. Those who follow the crowds are drowned. Nothings matters more than knowing God's purposes for our life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them. No one will know the keys to success, but one key to failure is to please everyone. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters."
6. Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope. The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.
7. It is impossible to do everything people want us to do. We have just enough time to do God's will.
8. The power of focusing can be seen in light. Diffused light has little power or impact, but we can concentrate its energy by focusing it. Paul almost single-handedly spread Christianity throughout Roman Empire. His secret of success was a focused life. He said, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
9. We were not put on earth to be remembered. We were put here to prepare for eternity. Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal. A wiser use of time is to build an eternal legacy.
10. Remember one day we will stand before God, and he will do an audit of our life, a final exam, before we enter eternity. Bear in mind that He is the best surveyor and auditor in the world. He can measure with 101% accuracy and precision. We will have to give a personal account to God. A statement of life flows, there won't be any adjustment at the end of judgment period. What done is done.
Source: Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren
1. We are the products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. God's purpose is not limited by our past. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero, and believe Him that He can do amazing things with the rest of your life, too.
2. Resentment always hurts us more than it does the person we resent. Remember that those who have hurt us in the past cannot continue to hurt us now unless we hold on to the pain through resentment. Let go.
3. Fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they are afraid to venture out and take risks. They choose to remain the status quo, which means a stagnant life.We must move against all kinds of fears with the weapon of faith and love.
4. Possessions only provide temporary happiness. God says the most valuable things in life are not things. A relationship with God is one thing no one can ever take from us.
5. Those who follow the crowds are drowned. Nothings matters more than knowing God's purposes for our life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them. No one will know the keys to success, but one key to failure is to please everyone. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters."
6. Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope. The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.
7. It is impossible to do everything people want us to do. We have just enough time to do God's will.
8. The power of focusing can be seen in light. Diffused light has little power or impact, but we can concentrate its energy by focusing it. Paul almost single-handedly spread Christianity throughout Roman Empire. His secret of success was a focused life. He said, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
9. We were not put on earth to be remembered. We were put here to prepare for eternity. Living to create an earthly legacy is a short-sighted goal. A wiser use of time is to build an eternal legacy.
10. Remember one day we will stand before God, and he will do an audit of our life, a final exam, before we enter eternity. Bear in mind that He is the best surveyor and auditor in the world. He can measure with 101% accuracy and precision. We will have to give a personal account to God. A statement of life flows, there won't be any adjustment at the end of judgment period. What done is done.
Source: Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren
Apr 13, 2009
Shadowfeet's Return
My blog deserves an update. Tracking back, time flew! It has been almost a month since I last blogged. Uni life has been busy and packed. I spent most of my time waiting and chasing after buses. It's absolutely not my cup of tea and I believe those who are rational will agree with me. I got wet in the relentless rain lately. I am going to do it for another 46 months. Hoping so much to get a car but thinking of the parking fees really kill my dream off.
Currently I am having my deserved Easter Holidays cum mid semester break. Aside from attending services, I forced myself to relax and take a respite from basically just everything, but assignments are piling up. Moreover, bunch of books are waiting for their owner to flip and feed.
I love the churches. I love my life group. I love CCM. I love Sherwood Methodist Tertiary Youth Fellowship. I love to shop for grocery, because I know I have to love it without reason, for I will be doing my own cooking and taking care of a house not of my property for the coming days. I love comparing prices. I love hunting for cheap yet quality stuff.
I was worn out. I just came back from the world renowned tourism spot - Gold Coast. The crying sky messed up our day. I had great fellowship with the church youths, some "adults". One thing I get to realize and understand is to appreciate every single one, despite of his or her personality and attitude, because we are all unique and special! Nobody is perfect. Nobody will be like me and you. We get to know a person through conversation. We will get to see more through his or her action. Learn to observe. Learn to comprehend. Learn to forgive. Learn to tolerate. Learn to love. Lets build up each other and be a channel of blessings to the people around us. Lets learn from one another. Lets be more like Jesus, take off our own selves and carry the cross. Our lives are our testimonies. Lets be the light and salt of the world, be salty and shiny.
Currently I am having my deserved Easter Holidays cum mid semester break. Aside from attending services, I forced myself to relax and take a respite from basically just everything, but assignments are piling up. Moreover, bunch of books are waiting for their owner to flip and feed.
I love the churches. I love my life group. I love CCM. I love Sherwood Methodist Tertiary Youth Fellowship. I love to shop for grocery, because I know I have to love it without reason, for I will be doing my own cooking and taking care of a house not of my property for the coming days. I love comparing prices. I love hunting for cheap yet quality stuff.
I was worn out. I just came back from the world renowned tourism spot - Gold Coast. The crying sky messed up our day. I had great fellowship with the church youths, some "adults". One thing I get to realize and understand is to appreciate every single one, despite of his or her personality and attitude, because we are all unique and special! Nobody is perfect. Nobody will be like me and you. We get to know a person through conversation. We will get to see more through his or her action. Learn to observe. Learn to comprehend. Learn to forgive. Learn to tolerate. Learn to love. Lets build up each other and be a channel of blessings to the people around us. Lets learn from one another. Lets be more like Jesus, take off our own selves and carry the cross. Our lives are our testimonies. Lets be the light and salt of the world, be salty and shiny.
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