I thought it was really interesting when I read "One of the best ways to understand other people is to ask them, 'How do you see your life?'" I don't necessarily know if that is true or not, but I thought it was really interesting! I kind of see my life as a pitch black room. In other words, it's scary for me. I don't know what's going on. I can't see. It's just unknown!
This book says there are three metaphors that teach us God's view of life; Life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment.
I can see parts of my life where I knew God was testing me. While I was reading this, I was looking back on some moments of my life. Between the rapes or people walking off on me, I could see where God was trying to get me to draw closer to Him. I could see that He wanted me to lean on Him more but I was just too scared or I felt like He left me or I felt like I never really knew Him... the list can go on!
I never really thought of life being a trust. It's about how everything God gives us is a loan. It is never really ours. We are supposed to take special care of the life and everything that is given to us, 'cause it was never ours to begin with; it's all God's! So I really like reading about that, this is turning out to be a really cool book!
Day Five- Thinking About My Purpose
Point to Ponder: Life is a test and a trust.
Verse to Remember: "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones." - Luke 16:10a (NLT)
Question to Consider: What has happened to me recently that I now realize was a test from God? What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me?
My Answer: The first thing that comes to mind that was recent and is a test was when Chase was brought into my life. The whole Facebook locking up thing, I could have just got up and walked away from my computer, but instead I messaged him 'cause I felt like it was the right thing to do. Also, with that, I think it was a test of trust to open up to Chase and let him in on my life. With that I believe God has blessed me because I listened. Since I met Chase, things have been a little easier to cope with and I even started to learn more about myself and about God. As far as what are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me.. I really don't know what that question means, but I believe that He wants me to be a great disciple of his and to help other Christans that are/were in my situation find hope through Christ to get through the circumstances.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Day 4: Made to Last Forever
This chapter is about how God designed us to live for eternity. The earth is simply the preschool. I never really thought about that before. I know that Carrie Underwood wrote a song called Temporary Home because she read this book and I think this chapter could have inspired it! But the song is true (and so is this book). This is just a temporary home. Everything that we go through; this is just a stop on the way to where we are going! One day my heart will stop beating and that will be the end of my time on earth, but it's not the end of me. My body is just a temporary residence for my spirit.
I like how this book says that death is not your termination, but your transition into eternity. I know that everyone has wondered if there is life after death or if death is just the end of everything. I firmly believe that it is not! I just never really put much thought into death itself, it makes me wanna start living right and living for God! I don't know when I'm going to die, but I certainly don't wanna die not doing what God has designed me to do!
Day Four- Thinking About My Purpose
Point to Ponder: There is more to life than just here and now.
Verse to Remember: "This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever." - 1 John 2:17 (NLT)
Question to Consider: Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing and one thing I should start doing today?
My Answer: Wow, this one could get personal! But yeah, I think I should stop living in fear of so many things all the time and just live. I often find myself being afraid of letting people in close to me and opening up to people, but I just don't want to have a one of those relationship where I either get screwed over, or the person peaced out on me, or the person dies. How I should start living is by forgiving those who have hurt me and move on from the situations. I think if I do that, there is so much more work God can do with me! I'm just scared... and I don't really know how...
I like how this book says that death is not your termination, but your transition into eternity. I know that everyone has wondered if there is life after death or if death is just the end of everything. I firmly believe that it is not! I just never really put much thought into death itself, it makes me wanna start living right and living for God! I don't know when I'm going to die, but I certainly don't wanna die not doing what God has designed me to do!
Day Four- Thinking About My Purpose
Point to Ponder: There is more to life than just here and now.
Verse to Remember: "This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever." - 1 John 2:17 (NLT)
Question to Consider: Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing and one thing I should start doing today?
My Answer: Wow, this one could get personal! But yeah, I think I should stop living in fear of so many things all the time and just live. I often find myself being afraid of letting people in close to me and opening up to people, but I just don't want to have a one of those relationship where I either get screwed over, or the person peaced out on me, or the person dies. How I should start living is by forgiving those who have hurt me and move on from the situations. I think if I do that, there is so much more work God can do with me! I'm just scared... and I don't really know how...
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Day 3: What Drives Your Life?
This chapter talks about what drives you (obviously). It gives some examples people are driven by is a problem, pressure, or a dead line. Also some people can be driven by a painful memory, a haunting fear, or an unconscious belief.
I think it's really interesting reading this and thinking of what drives me. Is it fear? Is it something that I'm unconscious about? It really makes me start to wonder what makes me thrive to do something. I honestly never really thought of it before!
I like how this chapter said "God's purpose is not limited by your past. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero.." It goes to show that your past doesn't dictate who you are. One thing that I tell people a lot is "when someone tries to remind you about your past, just laugh at them and remind them of your future."
This chapter also said something that will probably stick with me for a long while. "Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. That is so freakin' true! How much pain to I harbor from my past. One thing that I hurt from the most is people peacing out on me when times get rough. Casey, someone whom I looked up to very much as a big brother (although he is no relation to me) and as a mentor, just up and walked out of my life when I needed a him most. He thought that I wasn't real with him, when I was. I was actually the realist with him then I was with a lot of people in my life. I trusted him so much. I still hurt from the memory of him leaving me. It's been probably more than 2 years now, but the wound is still fresh. I've tried getting back in touch with him, but he won't return my calls or texts. I think that's one thing that has probably hurt me the most is people walking off on me, Especially Casey, but I let it hurt me still 'cause I wont let go of it. I'm afraid to... or maybe I just don't know how.
I really haven't heard a good quote that stuck with me, but in this I read that "those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it." I think that will be one of my motto's for a while!
But yeah, reading the part about the benefits of having a purpose-driven life kinda makes me realize that I don't really know my purpose in life just yet. Which is cool, I'm not really getting down on myself just yet, but I know I will find it sooner or later (hopefully sooner than later though haha).
I also like the analogy this chapter uses about being focused on your purpose. "With a magnifying glass, the rays of sun can be focused to set grass or pater on fire. When light is focused even more as a laser beam, it can cut through steel." I also think that is true to our lives. There is nothing weaker than a life with no purpose, but for the lives with purpose, that person will be strong and sucessful!
What I really liked reading, for it was a good reminder, was that I wasn't put on this earth to be remembered. I was put here to prepare myself for eternity. The story that went along with it was, "In college, James Dobson's goal was to become the school's tennis champion. He felt proud when his trophy was prominently placed in the school's trophy cabinet. Years later, someone mailed him that trophy. They had found it in a trashcan when the school was remodeled. Jim said, 'Given enough time, all your trophies will be trashed by someone else!'" That really spoke to me. Although I never really cared about my name going down in history, I do care what people think of me a lot, which doesn't even matter! It's not what others think or say about my life, what's important is what God thinks and says about me!
(Sorry that was a longer chapter so I had more to write about)
Day Three- Thinking About My Purpose
Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to peace.
Verse to Remember: "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?
My Answer: I think my family *ahem* friends would say my driving force in my life would be music (I asked a friend, lol). Which is very true. I think God used music to get me to notice Him. It's through music that I keep sane as well. However, what I would like my drive focus to be, and if your reading this it should be a no brainer, is God. I want Him to be the reason why I sing, the reason why I write, the reason why I breath. I definitely want him to be my main drive!
I think it's really interesting reading this and thinking of what drives me. Is it fear? Is it something that I'm unconscious about? It really makes me start to wonder what makes me thrive to do something. I honestly never really thought of it before!
I like how this chapter said "God's purpose is not limited by your past. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero.." It goes to show that your past doesn't dictate who you are. One thing that I tell people a lot is "when someone tries to remind you about your past, just laugh at them and remind them of your future."
This chapter also said something that will probably stick with me for a long while. "Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. That is so freakin' true! How much pain to I harbor from my past. One thing that I hurt from the most is people peacing out on me when times get rough. Casey, someone whom I looked up to very much as a big brother (although he is no relation to me) and as a mentor, just up and walked out of my life when I needed a him most. He thought that I wasn't real with him, when I was. I was actually the realist with him then I was with a lot of people in my life. I trusted him so much. I still hurt from the memory of him leaving me. It's been probably more than 2 years now, but the wound is still fresh. I've tried getting back in touch with him, but he won't return my calls or texts. I think that's one thing that has probably hurt me the most is people walking off on me, Especially Casey, but I let it hurt me still 'cause I wont let go of it. I'm afraid to... or maybe I just don't know how.
I really haven't heard a good quote that stuck with me, but in this I read that "those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it." I think that will be one of my motto's for a while!
But yeah, reading the part about the benefits of having a purpose-driven life kinda makes me realize that I don't really know my purpose in life just yet. Which is cool, I'm not really getting down on myself just yet, but I know I will find it sooner or later (hopefully sooner than later though haha).
I also like the analogy this chapter uses about being focused on your purpose. "With a magnifying glass, the rays of sun can be focused to set grass or pater on fire. When light is focused even more as a laser beam, it can cut through steel." I also think that is true to our lives. There is nothing weaker than a life with no purpose, but for the lives with purpose, that person will be strong and sucessful!
What I really liked reading, for it was a good reminder, was that I wasn't put on this earth to be remembered. I was put here to prepare myself for eternity. The story that went along with it was, "In college, James Dobson's goal was to become the school's tennis champion. He felt proud when his trophy was prominently placed in the school's trophy cabinet. Years later, someone mailed him that trophy. They had found it in a trashcan when the school was remodeled. Jim said, 'Given enough time, all your trophies will be trashed by someone else!'" That really spoke to me. Although I never really cared about my name going down in history, I do care what people think of me a lot, which doesn't even matter! It's not what others think or say about my life, what's important is what God thinks and says about me!
(Sorry that was a longer chapter so I had more to write about)
Day Three- Thinking About My Purpose
Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to peace.
Verse to Remember: "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?
My Answer: I think my family *ahem* friends would say my driving force in my life would be music (I asked a friend, lol). Which is very true. I think God used music to get me to notice Him. It's through music that I keep sane as well. However, what I would like my drive focus to be, and if your reading this it should be a no brainer, is God. I want Him to be the reason why I sing, the reason why I write, the reason why I breath. I definitely want him to be my main drive!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Day 2: I Am Not An Accident
This actually isn't something that I've really struggled with or really cared about, but this chapter brought up a lot of really good areas that I struggle with; self-worth. It was really comforting reading "He deliberately chose your race, the color of your skin, your hair, and every other feature. He custom-made your body just the way he wanted it. He also determined the natural talents you would possess and the uniqueness of your personality. Also I really liked the part where it was talking about how God is love, not God has love. I never really took a second to look at myself and see that everything that I'm looking at is God made. I need to start being more thankful for what I am and who I am and where I came from.
Day Two- Thinking About My Purpose
Point to Ponder: I am not an accident.
Verse to Remember: "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." - Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)
Question to Consider: I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, physical appearance am I struggling to accept?
My Answer: I think the things I struggle accepting are:
1) How I look- I always hear other guy are "hot" or whatever and I'm always the "cute" one or something like that. I never used to care but I think over the years it really started to get to me.
2) How I talk- I'm sick of people thinking that I'm gay or whatever. I always ask people why they think that and they always say it's how I talk.
3) My height- I used to never care about my height and I'm not that short, but I'd like to be a couple inches taller. I'm 5'8'' but I would like to be at least 5'10.
4) My family- I'd be lying if I said I was proud of my family. It actually hurts a lot when I see other people's family time or whatever. I wish I had that. I wish I had a family that cared about me more than their money.
Day Two- Thinking About My Purpose
Point to Ponder: I am not an accident.
Verse to Remember: "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." - Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)
Question to Consider: I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, physical appearance am I struggling to accept?
My Answer: I think the things I struggle accepting are:
1) How I look- I always hear other guy are "hot" or whatever and I'm always the "cute" one or something like that. I never used to care but I think over the years it really started to get to me.
2) How I talk- I'm sick of people thinking that I'm gay or whatever. I always ask people why they think that and they always say it's how I talk.
3) My height- I used to never care about my height and I'm not that short, but I'd like to be a couple inches taller. I'm 5'8'' but I would like to be at least 5'10.
4) My family- I'd be lying if I said I was proud of my family. It actually hurts a lot when I see other people's family time or whatever. I wish I had that. I wish I had a family that cared about me more than their money.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Day 1: It All Starts With God
The first chapter is a hard hitter, but something that I never really struggled with (but kinda do at times). It's not about you!
One thing that really stuck out to me is in the first paragraph; If you want to know why you were place on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born BY his purpose and FOR his purpose. Which I totally agree with. You always hear about people needing to change things about themselves, but most of the time they end up being the same person they started out as.. it's because they don't try to dive deeper into God! That's something that I really need to do myself is start getting into his word more. Maybe find someone that can disciple me.
One thing I struggle with the most (if I'm being honest here) is if God is even real. I know He is and I do believe that, but in the back of my head I sometimes wonder if He is or not.
Also, with this move to Texas I made back in July. I know God wants me here for a reason but I never know why! But then I read If I handed you an invitation you had never seen before, you wouldn't know its purpose, and the invitation itself wouldn't be able to tell you either. Only the creator or the owner's manual could reveal its purpose. In other words, to find my purpose I need to dive deeper into the Bible so I can draw closer to God. My purpose only lies in Him.
So yeah, that's what I got out of the first chapter!
Day One- Thinking About My Purpose
One thing that really stuck out to me is in the first paragraph; If you want to know why you were place on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born BY his purpose and FOR his purpose. Which I totally agree with. You always hear about people needing to change things about themselves, but most of the time they end up being the same person they started out as.. it's because they don't try to dive deeper into God! That's something that I really need to do myself is start getting into his word more. Maybe find someone that can disciple me.
One thing I struggle with the most (if I'm being honest here) is if God is even real. I know He is and I do believe that, but in the back of my head I sometimes wonder if He is or not.
Also, with this move to Texas I made back in July. I know God wants me here for a reason but I never know why! But then I read If I handed you an invitation you had never seen before, you wouldn't know its purpose, and the invitation itself wouldn't be able to tell you either. Only the creator or the owner's manual could reveal its purpose. In other words, to find my purpose I need to dive deeper into the Bible so I can draw closer to God. My purpose only lies in Him.
So yeah, that's what I got out of the first chapter!
Day One- Thinking About My Purpose
Point to Ponder: It's not about me.
Verse to Remember: "Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." -Colossians 1:16b (MSG)
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?
My Answer: From everything that I see on buildboards and television and magazines, they all show you how to live your life but not how to use your brain. I never really baught into all of that stuff anyway, but one thing that can remind myself that life is about God is by diving into his word every morning before I go out and do anything so His word is fresh in my mind.
Verse to Remember: "Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." -Colossians 1:16b (MSG)
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?
My Answer: From everything that I see on buildboards and television and magazines, they all show you how to live your life but not how to use your brain. I never really baught into all of that stuff anyway, but one thing that can remind myself that life is about God is by diving into his word every morning before I go out and do anything so His word is fresh in my mind.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Welcome To My Purpose Driven Life
I was given this book called The Purpose Driven Life by a friend of mine. Althought I struggle with reading, I am going to try my best to read a chapter a day. I have heard about this book before and I also know that Carrie Underwood wrote her song Tempory Home because she read this book. So I thought I'd take this 40 day challage and make a blog to go along with it! So yeah, I already read the first chapter, but I will reread it tomorrow morning and post a blog about my thoughts on it and things that I get out of it! Thanks for taking the time to read this and feel free to post a comment if you want (you do not have to be a member of the site to comment on my blog)! God bless y'all!
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