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Living in Light of Eternity

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 9, 2009

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“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
Healthy families have family pride; members are not ashamed to be recognized as a part of the family. Sadly, I’ve [...]

Tags: and announces your new life in Christ. It is also a celebration of your inclusion in God’s family. Your baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. It represents what happened the moment Go, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT). Baptism doesn’t make you a member of God’s family; only faith in Christ does that; baptism shows you are part of God’s fam, as working for the Lord, “I am not ashamed to be a part of God’s family.” Jesus commanded this beautiful act for all in his family: “Go and make disciples of all nations, “Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11 CEV). Let that amazing truth sink in! Becau, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NIV). For years I wondered why Jesus’ Great Commission gives the same prominence to baptism as it do, Colossians 3:23-24, God is proud of you. Being included in God’s family is the highest honor, Healthy families have family pride; members are not ashamed to be recognized as a part of the family. Sadly, I’ve met many believers who’ve never publicly identified themselves as Jesus commanded – by being baptized. Baptism is not some optional ritual to be delayed or postponed. It signifies your inc, it is a visible reminder of an inward commitment made in your heart. It is an act of initiation, Living in Light of Eternity, not for men, not something you put off until you are spiritually mature. The only biblical condition is that you believe. The Bible says, PurposeDrivenLife.com, Rick Warren, shares Christ’s burial and resurrection, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, symbolizes your death to your old life, the greatest privilege you and I will ever receive. Nothing else comes close. Why not pause right now and thank God that he included you? “Praise God for the privilege of being in Christ’s family, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart

Our Inheritance: Grace, Patience, Wisdom, and Power

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 6, 2009

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“God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.” 1 Peter 1:4 (NLT)
The New Testament gives great emphasis to our rich “inheritance.” As children in God’s family we get to share in the family fortune, that everything God [...]

Tags: 1 Peter 1:4, a poor economy, and Power, and protected; no one can take it from you. It can’t be destroyed by war, “I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people” (Ephesians 1:18 NLT). What benefits do we inherit? As children in God’s family we are given “the riche, beyond the reach of change and decay, God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, is what you should be looking forward to; retirement is a shortsighted goal., not retirement, or disaster. This inheritance, Our Inheritance: Grace, patience, permanent, pure, pure and undefiled, PurposeDrivenLife.com, Rick Warren, that everything God has belongs to us (Galatians 4:7). The apostle Paul adds, The New Testament gives great emphasis to our rich “inheritance.” As children in God’s family we get to share in the family fortune, which is why Paul could write with confidence: “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV). Your eternal inheritance is priceless, Wisdom

Fellowship: God’s Family Lasts Forever

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 5, 2009

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“Since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.” Galatians 4:7 (NLT)
Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever. Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God, but they are temporary and fragile, often broken by divorce, distance, growing old, and inevitably, by death.
The [...]

Tags: a more permanent bond, and inevitably, and the family inheritance!, “To all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God. They did not become his children in any human way – by any human parents or human desire. They were born, “When I think of the wisdom and scope of his plan, but they are temporary and fragile, by death. The apostle Paul says, distance, everything he has belongs to you, family intimate access, family privileges, Fellowship: God’s Family Lasts Forever, Galatians 4:7, growing old, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God – some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth” (Ephesians 3:14-15 LB). On the other hand, often broken by divorce, our spiritual family – our relationship to other believers – will continue throughout eternity. It is a much stronger union, PurposeDrivenLife.com, Rick Warren, Since you are his child, than blood relationships. The Bible teaches, the family likeness, you were given some astounding birthday gifts: the family name, Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever. Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God

Fellowship: God’s Own Family

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 4, 2009

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“It was a happy day for him when he gave us our new lives through the truth of his Word, and we became, as it were, the first children in his new family.” James 1:18 (LB)
When we place our faith in Christ, God becomes our Father, we become his children, other believers become our brothers [...]

Tags: and all who will believe in the future: “The Spirit makes you God’s children, and by the Spirit’s power we cry out to God, and the church becomes our spiritual family: “Jesus pointed to his disciples and said, and we became, as it were, ‘Father! my Father!’ God’s Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:15-16 TEV). Every human being was created by God but not everyone is a child, ‘These are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!’” (Matthew 12:49-50 NLT). The family of God includes all believers in the, but he has chosen us for this privilege because he loves us., but there is one condition: faith in Jesus. “You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26 NLT). Not only are we born again into God’s family through faith, Fellowship: God’s Own Family, God becomes our Father, in the present, It was a happy day for him when he gave us our new lives through the truth of his Word, James 1:18, other believers become our brothers and sisters, PurposeDrivenLife.com, Rick Warren, the Bible says God also “adopts” us. We don’t deserve to be his children, the first children in his new family, we become his children, When we place our faith in Christ

Fellowship: Formed for God’s Family

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 3, 2009

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“See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are!” 1 John 3:1 (NLT)
You were formed for God’s family.
“God is the One who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory…” (Hebrews [...]

Tags: 1 John 3:1, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory...” (Hebrews 2:10 NCV). God wants a family, and he created you to be a part of it. This is one of God’s purposes for your life, and reign with him forever. “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:5 N, and share with us all he has. This gives God great pleasure., and Spirit. The Trinity is God’s relationship to himself. It’s the perfect pattern for relational harmony and we should study its implications. God already exists in loving relationship to himsel, and we really are!, bring us into his family, Fellowship: Formed for God’s Family, for he allows us to be called his children, he treasures relationships. His very nature is relational and he identifies himself in family terms: Father, honor him, PurposeDrivenLife.com, Rick Warren, See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, so he devised a plan to create us, Son, which he planned before you were born. The entire Bible is the story of God building a family who will love him, You were formed for God’s family. “God is the One who made all things

What Does God Know about You? (Part 3)

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 2, 2009

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“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)
Over the last two days we have looked at God’s omniscience – that he knows everything, specifically everything about you and your life. We have been examining [...]

Tags: and he sees your hurt more than anyone else can. · God knows your future, and he wants you to hand your worries over to him. · God knows your faithfulness because he sees every good thing you do. The fact that God knows everything is a tremendous motivator for me to live, and so we have financial fears. And then we act as if God is unaware of our bills. “Don’t you see, and we worry. But worry is the result of not realizing the omniscience of God. When we think that God doesn’t know what’s going on in our lives, “… Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8 NIV). He’s aware of every single need you have: financial needs, “Don’t Be Discouraged!” Some of you may be saying, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, “I see it and it doesn’t matter who else sees it.” Nothing good we ever do is ever done in vain: “So we must not get tired of doing good, “I see that good thing you just did. Keep on going! Nobody else saw it, “I’ll be God.” Worrying is taking responsibility for things God never intended you to have. The truth is God is aware of all your needs. Prayer is never giving information to God. The Bible say, “I’ve been trying to do the right thing in my marriage. I don’t see any results. I’ve been trying to be the right kind of person and respond correctly with my kids or to my parents. I’ve bee, but he still loves you unconditionally. · God knows your feelings and frustrations, but I did. I know that thought you just had and I know it was a positive good thought. I saw it.” So what should be my response? If God sees all the good things that I do and he’s out there cheer, can either be very disturbing or very comforting. It depends on your relationship to him, emotional needs. God knows your faithfulness. Here’s another benefit from the truth that God knows everything: He sees everything you do that is good and right. Every time you choose not to sin, every act of courtesy, every kind word you give to your children, every time you do a thoughtful act for your husband, every time you pick up around the office when it’s not your job, every time you refuse to gossip, every time you resist temptation, every time you set up chairs in church or stuff bulletins, every time you take a stand because of God’s Truth, every time you’re positive instead of negative – God sees it all, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 HCSB). Knowing the truth – that God knows everything in your life, God? I’m going under! I’m not going to make it!” We’re trying to stretch and make ends meet. We get uptight, he sees your faithfulness to him. The Bible says every good deed will be rewarded, Hebrews 4:13, many of us today are concerned about the economy, no matter how insignificant and regardless of whether anybody else on earth sees it. Every encouragement you give to other people, no matter how small (Matthew 10:40-42). Imagine yourself on a giant stage and you’re the only person on that stage. You’re acting out your life. In the audience there is only one person and it’, not abandon you, Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account., Over the last two days we have looked at God’s omniscience – that he knows everything, plans to give you the future you hope for” (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG)., PurposeDrivenLife.com, Rick Warren, sexual needs, so he can tell what you need to know. · God knows your fears, social needs, specifically everything about you and your life. We have been examining God’s presence in your life by breaking it down into five areas. Today we’ll look at the final two. God knows your fears. G, spiritual needs, then my response should be, then we think we have to take matters into our own hands. In effect, upset, we’re saying, What Does God Know about You? (Part 3), whether you’re trying to fool him or not. Have you been acting as if God is totally unaware of your life in any of these five areas? · God know your faults and failures

What Does God Know about You? (Part 2)

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 2, 2009

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“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)
God knows everything about your faults and failures, and your feelings and frustrations, and he also knows what your tomorrow holds.
God knows your future. We’re all interested [...]

Tags: and future all at once. That should give us great confidence in God. It’s comforting to me that he knows everything that is going to happen in my life. He not only knows about the future, and he also knows what your tomorrow holds. God knows your future. We’re all interested in the future. It’s interesting to me the things people will use to try to figure out what’s going to hap, and the future all at the same time. Think of it like this: if you were in the Goodyear Blimp looking down on the Rose Parade, and you may ask, and your feelings and frustrations, “Father, “If I could just see around the curve, “Oh, “What’s happening? Where is God?” God’s been there all along, bio-rhythms. But they’re going to the wrong source because the only one who knows what’s going to happen next is God. The Bible says, but it doesn’t surprise God. Nothing ever catches him by surprise, can see past, consulting with people, even before you were born, every cranky person in the office, every flat tire, every missed plane, every traffic jam, from his perspective, give me the strength to cope through this day, go over your schedule with the Lord. Pray, God can tell you about. He’s not going to lay out your whole life all at once, God is not limited by time. He’s able to be in the past, God knew all of your future (Psalm 139:16, God knows everything about your faults and failures, he can also walk in our future. God is already prepared for everything you’re going to face – tomorrow, he could help you out. The same is true with God: from his perspective, he gives it to you a little bit at a time. It’s like this, he knows everything that’s going to happen, he’s there in the future. He not only walks with us day-by-day, Hebrews 4:13, horoscopes, I’d go ahead and pass this guy.” If there were a helicopter above, Jeremiah 29:11). This means God sees your tomorrow, next week, Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account., or makes him say, or next month. What the future holds may surprise us, preparing. He’s already in your future and he’s prepared for everything. If I know that God knows all my tomorrows, present, PurposeDrivenLife.com, reading tea leaves, really?!” Next month or next year you may be faced with a crisis, Rick Warren, right now, so you can ask him for advice. Here’s what I’d suggest, telling you everything that will happen in your life. If he did, the pilot could let you know if there was another car around the curve. From his perspective, the present, the strength that I need for today.”, then I should ask him for advice. He knows what’s going to happen: “Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own” (, today, today. He already sees the things you’ll face. The fact is, What Does God Know about You? (Part 2), when I’m going to spill the coffee on my suit. You’ve already seen it all. Would you, when you get up in the morning, when you’re driving up a mountain on a curving road and you’re caught behind a slow car, you could see the beginning of the parade and the end of the parade all at the same time. God, you may think, you’d likely get very discouraged or prideful or both. Instead, you’ve already seen this day that I’m about to experience. You know ahead of time every interruption I’m going to face

What Does God Know about You? (Part 1)

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 2, 2009

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“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.“ Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)
One night I was standing in front of the refrigerator. I’d gotten out of bed to make a midnight refrigerator raid even though I was on a [...]

Tags: a divorce, and “The Lord is like a father to his children, and he sees the hurt in your heart like nobody else can. Because God knows our frustrations and despair, and that means you don’t have to fake it, and today we will look at two of five specific areas where knowing this will make a difference in your life. God know your faults and failures. I find it uncomfortable to realize I don’t have any s, and we start to think, are not hidden from you; you know how foolish I have been” (Psalm 69:5 GNT). So we’re foolish when we do something wrong and then try to sneak it past God, “Just one bite ….” You know how it goes. You get into a debate with yourself: “Go ahead; it won’t hurt this one time.” “No, “My sins, “No one will ever know.” You may not be standing in front of the refrigerator. You may be at work, “Nobody knows what I’m going through, “Nobody understands the way I feel; nobody feels the pain.” But God knows, “Oh, “You know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears” (GNT). Often when we’re hurting, because there are things about me I’d rather God not know. But the Bible says, change the way he feels about you. He loves you unconditionally, everything you do, everything you feel, everything you see, for he cares about what happens to you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). Cast them all permanently on God, God knows all about it. He already knows all you’ve done wrong and he still loves you! You’re not fooling God when you keep your sins hidden (1 John 1:8). He’s not shocked by your sin; and when, he cares. He knows the causes, Hebrews 4:13, I’m on this diet.” It’s in moments like these that Satan feeds us a devilish excuse, it doesn’t ever, maybe we’ve gotten fired, no problem that confuses him. He’s never surprised. He’s never shocked. He never says, nobody feels the pain I’m experiencing.” God knows. He knows your feelings and frustrations. He’s seen the crisis in your soul. There’s no hurt that goes unnoticed by God. Psalm 56:8 says, not bad, Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account., O God, once and for all. Don’t take them back., One night I was standing in front of the refrigerator. I’d gotten out of bed to make a midnight refrigerator raid even though I was on a diet. And I stood there with the refrigerator door open, or filling out your income tax form, or some place your parents wouldn’t want you to be. But you go ahead and do something questionable because we all can get caught in the false belief that “no one will ever know.” But God alread, PurposeDrivenLife.com, really?!” God knows everything; it’s something theologians call the omniscience of God. The fact that God knows everything about you is good news, Rick Warren, tender and compassionate to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13 NLT). God not only sees, the reasons, the things that brought you to this point. He understands because he made you, thinking, to stuff it in a closet and lock the door. God knows what’s behind the locked door (Proverbs 5:21). Everything you think, we can give those feelings to him: “Give all your worries and cares to God, we feel very isolated and lonely. Maybe there’s been a death in the family, What Does God Know about You? (Part 1), will never, you don’t have to pretend. God knows your feelings and frustrations. Some of you think

Our God Does Not Grow on Trees

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 2, 2009

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“He burns part of the tree to roast his meat … Then he takes what’s left and makes his god.” Isaiah 44:16-17 (NLT)
In 1980, Howard Cosell interrupted a “Monday Night Football” game with the announcement that John Lennon, of the Beatles, had been murdered outside his New York City apartment.
In an eerie moment, ABC Sports [...]

Tags: a Bible verse floated into my mind: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, ABC Sports respectfully cut sound from the game just as a play broke on the field, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NKJV). I’d like to tell you that I fell to my knees and forever turned from my prodigal path, but, by their own hands, cheered wildly. As I grieved, had been murdered outside his New York City apartment. In an eerie moment, He burns part of the tree to roast his meat … Then he takes what’s left and makes his god, Howard Cosell interrupted a “Monday Night Football” game with the announcement that John Lennon, I continued to wander a long and winding road to the Truth. The prophet Isaiah spoke about men who used wood to fashion a god – one unable to deliver them – and so, In 1980, in my arrogance, Isaiah 44:16-17, Jon Walker, leaving television viewers – numbed by the news – sitting in silence while fans at the game, of the Beatles, Our God Does Not Grow on Trees, PurposeDrivenLife.com, they doomed themselves. Our objective-in-Jesus is to rid ourselves of any gods we’ve fashioned from our own hands and to serve the one true God., unaware of Lennon’s death

Don’t Settle for Happiness; Aim for Joy

Posted by: naojeiram on: February 2, 2009

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“Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you joy …” Philippians 3:1 (NLT)
A man once told me that he’d broken up with his fiancé because she didn’t make him happy enough. Mind you, he was happy with her; she just didn’t make him as happy as he felt a future wife should.
What [...]

Tags: A man once told me that he’d broken up with his fiancé because she didn’t make him happy enough. Mind you, all day long. Understanding this drains the tension from your life: you can make mistakes and know that you’re still loved by God, alone in a foreign city: “Whatever happens, and the circumstances that surrounded them. Yet, and the levy was dry.” Looking back on that time, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, and you can joyfully live in that grace everyday, “God taught us that such a loss really makes you think about what’s important and what’s going to last. Our possessions were wiped out in a matter of minutes, “We drove our Chevy to the levy, but the important thing is that we were alive and well. Within a year, but we could have never replaced each other.” Happiness is overrated. On the other hand, California, chained to a guard, Chaundel, Chaundel says, dear brothers and sisters, Don’t Settle for Happiness; Aim for Joy, ever-present joy: First, he was happy with her; she just didn’t make him as happy as he felt a future wife should. What this man told me gives memorable insight into how some people view happiness: They believe happiness i, I’ll love you” – and that means he probably assumes the love he receives from others is conditional too. How can anyone experience joy when they live each day thinking they have to earn love? S, joy is often forgotten. Yet, joy will stabilize your life as you embrace grace and focus on the things that are truly important, live each day by grace. Grace means you don’t have to earn God’s love or his approval. And here’s some joyful news: If you don’t have to earn God’s love, may God give you joy., may the Lord give you joy …, may the Lord give you joy …” (Philippians 3:1 NLT). He suggested there are two keys to transforming mere happiness into a deeply-felt, moving a bad hair day down the list and relationships up to the top. No matter what happens, or the possessions you accumulate, or what’s happening at this point in your life. God says you’ll find joy, our house was rebuilt, Philippians 3:1, PurposeDrivenLife.com, Rick Warren, she joked, stay focused on what’s really important. There are a lot of little things that can steal your joy – but only if you let them. Jesus taught this: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on eart, the Bible says don’t settle for happiness; aim for joy. Joy comes from within; joy is not dependent upon the people in your life, the local levy broke and flooded the area. Even in her grief, the things, then you don’t have to earn anyone else’s love. God offers his love unconditionally, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV). My sister, thought about this Bible passage when she learned her house in Maryville, Tom, was under 9 feet of water. While she and her husband, were out to dinner, Whatever happens, when you trust that he’s in control and working to use the good – and the bad – of your life for a greater purpose. The apostle Paul understood this, where moth and rust destroy, where moth and rust do not destroy, who desires a relationship with you over any rules or rituals. The man who broke up with his fiancé appears to have had difficulty in understanding grace. His love came with conditions – “As lon, writing about joy while in prison