Day 35: God’s power in your weakness

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
So Germany lost the Euro Cup to Spain. But the Spanish played better than the Germans. =( Media Markt no discount. Roy said Media Markt offering €100 discount per goal in the finale for goods more than €500 in the past. Wow?

Anyway, Diablo 3: Gameplay trailer is out. Blizzard Entertainment © will kill the gaming world this year by 2 gigantic projects? Starcraft III and Diablo III. Both using the same so-called “step-up-step-down” technology. Cool~
Anyway, I will update photos about my weekend trip with my church members, in the next post maybe. Too much to do, no?
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Day 35: God’s power in your weakness

We all have flaws and weaknesses, physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. There are also some unforeseen circumstances that weaken you, for example relationships problems, financial limitations, relational limitations etc. It is not about how many weaknesses we have – it is about what you do with them. Normally people will deny, hide resent, excuse, and defend them. All of these prevent God from using them the way he wants.

So what does God wants through our weaknesses? But firstly, we must know that our weaknesses are not an accident too. God built them in us so that He can demonstrate His power through you. He is drawn to people who are weak but admit it. In the Bible we see a lot of people who are imperfect and ordinary. But those are the one who God uses to do extraordinary things in spite of their weaknesses. None of use is flawless.

If you think about the limitations in your life, you might say, “God could never use me.” But God enjoys putting His greatness into ordinary containers. A Bible verse says:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:7

We are fragile and easily broken. But God will use us if we allow Him to work through our weaknesses.

Admit your weaknesses. You are not a perfect person. Stop thinking how superior you are and be honest about yourself. This is something that I wanted to learn. There was a day when I burnt my pizza. Smoke came out from the oven. Some German guys from upstairs came down from the 3^rd floor, asking anyone burnt anything. When they asked me, I denied it. Till now, I felt uneasy about it. Ego and the fear of making mistakes led me to lie. I really wish that God can help me overcome it. Teach me to be humble and admit my mistakes, my weaknesses.

If you want God to use you, you must know who God is and know who you are.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Be content with your weaknesses. In Bible it says:

…Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

In other ways to put it, it says that “God, I believe You love me and know what’s best for me.”

There are lots of reasons why we should be content with our inborn weaknesses:

1. They cause us to depend on God. When we are weak, God is reminding us to depend on Him.

2. They prevent arrogance. They keep us humble. Gideon recruited 32,000 armies to fight Midianites. But God reduced them to 300, making the ratio became 1:450 of 135,000 enemy troops. And God let them win, so that they would know it’s God’s power and not their own strength.

3. They encourage fellowship between believers. Our limitations show our need of each other. They made us to unite.

Christians, like snowflakes, are frail, but when they stick together they can stop traffic.
Vance Havner

4. They increase our capacity for sympathy and ministry. God wants us to have a Christlike ministry on earth. It means other people can go to find healing in your wounds. Deepest hurts are the part where your most effective ministry will show. The things we are most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, and most reluctant to share are the very tools God can use most powerfully to heal others.

All God’s giants were weak people.
Hodson Taylor

Moses, Gideon, Abraham, Peter, David, John and many others were the examples for this claim. God can turn weaknesses into strengths.

He wants to take your greatest weakness and transform it.

Honestly share your weaknesses. Ministry begins with vulnerability. The more we be defenseless, take off our masks, share our pains and struggles, the more God will be able to use us in serving others. Paul shared a lot in his letters.

However, vulnerability is risky. We might get rejected when we reveal our failures, feelings, frustrations, and fear. But we must always remember that the benefits are worth the risk. It relieves stress, defuses fears, and it is the first step to freedom.

A lot people misunderstand the word “humility”. It is not putting down or denying your strengths; it is being honest about your weaknesses.

Vulnerability is an endearing quality; we are naturally drawn to humble people. Pretentiousness repels but authenticity attracts, and vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

We must then decide whether we want to impress or to influence people. If you just want to impress people, you can do it from far. But if you want to influence them, you must get close to them, and this is where they will able to see your flaws. But remember, the most essential quality for leadership is not perfection, but credibility. Therefore, don’t pretend to be perfect.

Glory in your weaknesses. When Satan points out our weaknesses, agree with him but fill your heart with praise for Jesus, for He understands every weakness of ours, and for the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our weakness. Be willing to walk with your weaknesses, because those are who God will use.

Vincent

Day 34: Thinking like a servant

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
A nice Bible quote given by my mentor to me:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
2 Timothy 4:12

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Day 34: Thinking like a servant

God always interested in why we do something rather than in what we do. Attitude counts more than achievements. This is why we need to think like a servant of God.
Servants think more about others than about themselves. They give priority to other people than themselves. This is true humility.

Not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Philippians 2:4 The Message

We stop focusing on our own needs and start to be aware of the needs around us. Jesus himself is the best example of this:

...but made himself [Jesus] nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
Philippians 2:7

Jesus made himself nothing to be a servant. You can’t, therefore, be a servant if you are full of yourself. However, this is not what happened to this world. Many serve to get others to like us, to be admired, or to achieve certain personal goals. This is manipulation. The funny thing is that some even make barter-system bargain with God: “I’ll do this for you God, if you do something for me.” How funny is that, no? A servant bargains with the Master. This is more like you are the master than the servant.

The quality of self-forgetfulness is rare. Humility is a daily struggle, a lesson that we must relearn over and over again to overcome our selfish nature. Today you might overcome it, but tomorrow you might fall under it. However don’t be disappointed over it. These are the chances for you to practice your servanthood. Remember, self-denial is the core of servanthood.

If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.
Matthew 5:41 The Message

Servant thinks like stewards, not owners.

Servanthood and stewardship is together, since God expects us to be trustworthy in both.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2

How well are you in handling the resources that God entrusted to you? Are you using them, or just hide them, just like the Story of Talents?

Out of all, money has the greatest potential to replace God in our life. After-I-achieve-my-financial-goal-then-I-will-serve-God decision is foolish. Failing to use wealth for God’s glory is a sin. In Bible God uses money to test our faithfulness as a servant.

If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
Luke 16:11

Rick Warren talked again about the Kingdom Builders and Wealth Builders. Both are gifted at making money. But only the Kingdom Builders change the rules of the game – they don’t just earn money for themselves no matter how much they make, they use the wealth to fund God’s churches and their missions in the world.

Servants think about their work, not what others are doing. They don’t go around and compare their works with each other. They don’t go around and criticize others. They don’t go around and compete with other servants of God. We are all in the same team; we all have the same goals; we all are given different assignments; we all are uniquely shaped. Why do we need to compete with one and another?

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:26

And besides, who are we to compare and criticize and provoke others? Who are we to evaluate the Master’s other servants?

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.
Romans 14:4

Your service for Christ is never wasted regardless of what others say.

Servants base their identity in Christ. We need not to prove our worth, for we are all loved and accepted by grace. All we need is to settle our identity in Christ. Do not fear of exposure of our weaknesses to others, because you will end up needing other people’s approval.

When we base our worth and identity on our relationship to Christ, we are freed from the expectations of others, and that allows us to really serve them best.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

We need not to show off our awards to validate our works. Status is unnecessary in servanthood. You need not to be ranked, and your worth is not measured by your achievements.

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:18

Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation. They enjoy helping others, doing ministry and meeting the needs of others. We serve because we are grateful for God’s grace and we love our God. We know serving is the highest use of life. We also know that God has promised reward for us. He will not forget how hard we have worked to show our love towards him.

Vincent

Day 33: How real servants act

Day 33: How real servants act

In this world most of the people define greatness in terms of power, wealth, possessions, prestige, or position. But God disagree this concept. God determines our greatness by how many people we serve instead. Often we see books about leadership; everything teaches you how to be a leader. Everyone wants to lead other people; no one wants to be a servant.
Sometimes, when we go so far, when we come to so far, it’s wise to have a rest and ask ourselves: Are we growing to be more like Christ? Jesus himself showed us the example of being a servant.

While knowing your shape is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

We need to have this heart to be a servant to keep ourselves from falling for temptations to misuse our shape just for our personal gain. God often tests us through asking us to serve not the way we are shaped. We should serve in area where you are needed at the moment, not only in the area of which you are shaped. The servant’s heart is very important, as it will reveal your maturity. What talent or gift is needed to help out in cleaning or arranging tables and chairs after a church meeting?

Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

So, how to be a real servant?
Real servants make themselves available to serve. They don’t give excuses just to avoid serving God. They are always being prepared to serve, so as a soldier always be prepared to be enlisted to protect his country. Serving only when you are convenient is not a real servant. A question to think about: Are we available to God at any time?

We don’t get to pick and choose when or where we will serve. That is what being a servant is all about – giving up the right to control your schedule and let God to plan for you instead. That is why, praying to God and invite Him to be the shepherd every morning is very helpful.

Real servants pay attention to needs. They always look out for ways to help others.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:10

When someone needs our help, just help him or her, for it is an opportunity given by God for you to grow in servanthood. Likewise, we should pay attention to your church family. Pay attention. We miss a lot chances for serving because of our lake of sensitivity and spontaneity. Chances don’t come often. Therefore, seize them when you have one. Don’t wait.

Do not say to your neighbor,
“I’ll come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow” -
when you now have it with you.
Proverbs 4:28

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.
John Wesley

Isn’t that powerful? It does not matter if what you are doing is big or small; God is watching it.

Real servants do their best with what they have. We don’t make excuses, procrastination. Instead we just do what needs to be done. During my first few times in Hoffnung Stuttgart I was quite doubtful, because I fear I am not good enough to serve. But no! It does not have to be perfect for God to use and bless. And this leads to the next point:

Real servants do every task with equal dedication. In other words, we do things with all of our heart.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not or men.
Colossian 3:23

And don’t ever think that yourself is much important than others.

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:3

We don’t have to look for the big stuffs to do for God. A small thing could be more significant than the big, when we do it with all of our heart.

Real servants are faithful to their ministry. They do everything, and they do not leave any job half undone. They don’t quit when facing discouragement. They are trustworthy and dependable. Not many people are truly faithful. I could not call myself a faithful one – There are a lot of promises that I did not keep, vows that I did not fulfill… This element is, however, important because God has promised to reward us for our faithfulness:

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
Matthew 25:23

Real servants maintain a low profile. They do not show off what they have done. They keep them low. Jesus told us:

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:1

I learned again today that I should not be waiting for comments from her, him, you or anyone. I should not be discouraged when what I’m doing so far is unnoticed or taken for granted. It’s God’s work that a servant like me is doing. The Verse to Remember of today is very meaningful:

“If you give even a cup of gold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
Matthew 10:42 New Living Translation

Vincent

Day 32: Using what God gave you

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
Although exam is coming near, later I’ll be going for vacation with my church friends.
*you all can go vacation, I also can… Grins*
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Day 32: Using what God gave you

What you are is God’s Gift to you;
what you do with yourself is your gift to God.
Danish proverb

God shaped you with purpose, and He expects us to make the most of what we have been given. Focus on the talents that He has given you.

When you attempt to serve God in ways you’re not shaped to serve, it feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole. It’s frustrating and produces limited results.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

To full use of what God has given us, we must discover your shape, learn to accept and enjoy it, and then develop it to its fullest potential.

Discover your shape

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:17

Don’t waste your day here on earth, start find out what God’s will is today.

Begin by assessing your gifts and abilities. Understand yourself – your good and bad. Make a list of it. Ask people around for their opinion about you. But you must inform them that you’re searching for the truth, not fishing for a compliment. We can confirm our spiritual gifts and natural abilities from others.

The best way to understand your gifts and abilities is to experiment with different areas of service. This is also what Stephanie, Jia Jin, and others suggested to me. Help out in various teams and you will see results, receive confirmation from others and realized “God has gifted me to do this!” Experimenting is, therefore, important.

Until you are actually involved in serving, you are not going to know what you are good at.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

We all have many hidden talents in us. What matters is just to the so-called “awaken” them. Try out things that you never try before, but of course, not sinning. Start serving, not to wait and draw charts or whatever to figure out your gifts before you serve. You will know yourself better along the way when you are serving. When it does not work out, call it an “experiment”, not a failure. One day, you will learn what you’re good at.

Consider your heart and your personality

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.
Galatians 6:4 The Message

Ask yourself if you really enjoy doing the work or not, when do you feel the most fully alive, what are you doing when you lose track of time? There are a lot of things you can ask yourself to understand yourself better. And then ask others if those are also what they see in you. This will help you understand yourself.
Examine your experiences and extract the lessons you have learned.

Forgotten experiences are worthless.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

We seldom realize what God’s good intention in every pain or failure or embarrassment while it is happening. It happens to every one of us. Often we do not see further than what we can see. This causes our faith to be weak too. Look far, look wide. But extracting the lessons from your experiences takes time. Pause and see how God has worked in your life. Consider how He wants to use those lessons to help others.

Accept and enjoy your shape
God knows what is the best for us. Therefore, don’t because of tiny stuffs you blame God for not providing what you want.

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
Romans 9:20-21

Don’t reject what God has shaped you; He has his own purpose for that. Instead, we should celebrate the shape God has given specially to you.

Part of accepting your shape is recognizing your limitations. No one is perfect, else he will be God.

We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.
2 Corinthians 10:13

Therefore, know the boundary – the field, or the sphere of service. We do not run to a different lane during a running competition.

… and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1

Focus on your shape, and enjoy using it. Satan will often try to steal the joy of service by tempting you to compare your ministry with others, and conform you ministry to the expectations of others. Don’t fall for it. In fact in Bible we are warned not to compare with each other:

Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.
Galatians 6:4

There are 2 reasons why we should not compare ourselves to another:
1. You will always find someone who seems to be doing a better job than you and you will become discouraged.
2. You will always find someone who doesn’t seem as effective as you and you will get full of pride.

Both of these take you out of service and rob your joy. It is foolish to compare ourselves to other people.
Paul always faces with critics and misunderstanding about his service. His respond, however, is always the same: Avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations, and seek only God’s commendation. This is also why God used Paul so greatly.

If my life is fruitless, it doesn’t matter who praises me; and if my life fruitful, it doesn’t matter who criticizes me.
John Bunyan

Keep developing your shape
Jesus’ parable about the story of talents shows that God expects us to make the most of what He gives us. We need to use our shapes to be more effective in our service. It’s the same like exercising your muscles: If you don’t exercise them often, they weaken and atrophy. Likewise you will lose abilities and skills God has given you. From the same story of talents, we learned that God will increase the talents that we have. Through practice our gifts can be enlarged. Therefore, don’t settle down with your gifts. Then can be expanded. Take advantages of every training opportunity to develop you shape and sharpen your serving skills.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
1 Corinthians 9:25

I am going for the eternal crown. What about you?

Vincent

Day 31: Understanding your shape

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
Tough time ahead. Be ready. Pray faithfully.
Qi Hao, you can do it! =)
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Day 31: Understanding your shape

We are the only one who has the same character in ourselves. This is the unique of all of us, created by God. Let’s continue on the SHAPE.

SHAPE: Applying your abilities
Abilities are the natural talents we were born with. A fact is that God gives us various abilities: Some can play good piano (hu hu, don’t dare to be specific – a lot, no? :P), some can give powerful and strong preaches (Steffen, Joash…), some have natural athletic abilities and very outstanding in sports, some are good in studies… and the list goes on.

All of our abilities come from God.
Since they are all from God, they are as important and as “spiritual” as your spiritual gifts. Just that the abilities were given to you at birth.

The common excuse that many give for not serving is “I just don’t have any abilities to offer”. This is not true. We are all given abilities and they are all stored inside you – you need to find them out!

A brain can store 100 trillion facts; a mind can handle 15,000 decisions per second; nose can smell up to 10,000 different odors; your touch can detect an item 1/25000^th of an inch thick; your tongue can taste one part of quinine in 2 million parts of water. Just as amazing as God is, you yourself hold incredible abilities that are given by God.

Every ability can be used for God’s glory.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

In the Bible we see various people of various abilities being used by God for His glory.

There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service.
1 Corinthians 12:6 Today’s English Version

God has prepared in His church where our specialties can shine and we can make a difference. So find that place. If we have business ability to earn a lot, realize your ability came from God and give Him the credit. Use your business to serve a need of others and to share your faith with unbelievers. Return at least a tithe (10%) of the profit to God as an act of worship. Make your goal to be kingdom builder rather than wealth builder.
What I’m able to do, God wants me to do.

You are the only person on earth who can use your abilities.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

No one else can take over your place, because we are all uniquely created by God. Examine what we are good at, and what we are weak at. Only this way we can discover God’s will for our lives. In other words, God will not ask you to do what you have no talent for. God won’t ask you to be a singer if He did not give you the ability to produce wonderful tune. Likewise in studies, if it is not God’s given ability, you won’t be getting scholarship to study abroad. It really motivated me a lot. Well, the thing I am trying to discover now is badminton. I wonder what God wants me to do with it, for His glory. Maybe it is a testimony that God is real and He answers prayers, like in MGSS Badminton Competition? But I will wait for Him patiently. He never comes late.

Whatever you are good at, you should be doing for your church!
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

SHAPE: Using your personality
Studies show that DNA can unite more than 10^{2,400,000,000}. Therefore, there never has been, and never will be, anybody exactly like you.

God made introverts and extroverts. He made people who love routine and those who love variety. He made some people “thinkers” and others “feelers”. Some people work best when given an individual assignment while others work better with team.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

But these are not bad things. We need all kinds of personalities to balance the church and give it flavor. Therefore, your personality will affect how and where you use your spiritual gifts and abilities. When you are forced to ministry which is out of character, it creates tension and discomfort, more energy while less productivity. That’s why, mimicking someone else’s ministry never works. You have your own self to be, that God wants you to be. When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction, and fruitfulness.

SHAPE: Employing your experiences
Our experiences in the past shaped us, no? And mostly they are not something that we can control. There are six kinds of experiences suggested by Rick Warren:
1. Family experiences: What did you learn growing up in your family?
2. Educational experiences: What were your favorite subjects in school?
3. Vocational experiences: What jobs have you been most effective in and enjoyed the most?
4. Spiritual experiences: What have been your most meaningful times with God?
5. Ministry experiences: How have you served God in the past?
6. Painful experiences: What problems, hurts, thorns, and trials have you learned from?

The sixth is the one that God mostly used. In fact, your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt.

Who could better help an alcoholic recover than someone who fought that demon and found freedom?
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

The parable is clear, and God lets us go through painful experiences to equip us for ministry to others.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

We must, therefore, be willing to share all these painful experiences. If we keep covering them up, you are not admitting your faults, failures, and fears. People always more encouraged when we share how God has changed and helped us in weaknesses.

Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.
Aldous Huxley

Use your experience, especially your pain, to help others.






Vincent

Day 30: Shaped for serving God

Day 30: Shaped for serving God

As we all know, each of us are uniquely designed and shaped to do certain things. Even before we are born, God has designed us so that we have a certain roles on earth to play. He coordinated everything exactly how He wanted you to serve Him. You are created for a specific ministry. Each of us is carefully made: a custom-designed masterpiece.

For You created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made,
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-14

Every single day of our lives are planned by God. This means nothing in your life is insignificant. God uses everything – your talents, abilities, gifts, personality, interests, and life experiences – to shape you to service and to his glory. Rick Warren created the acrostic S.H.A.P.E. to help us remember the “wonderfully complex”.
How God shapes you for your ministry:
1. Spiritual gifts
2. Heart
3. Abilities
4. Personality
5. Experience
SHAPE: Unwrapping your spiritual gifts

God gives every believer spiritual gifts to be used in ministry. Everyone has different gifts from God:

I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
1 Corinthians 7:7

You will not have all of His gifts, because God wants us to love and depend on each other. God choose the gifts that He wants you to have; you cannot choose for yourself. And these gifts, as mentioned before, are not for the benefit of yours, but to others. We are commanded to discover and develop our spiritual gifts.

An unopened gift is worthless.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Besides this, we must not forget about the basic truths about these gifts, else the envy of others because the-gifts-that-they-have-but-I-don’t will rise. Remember always that we are serving the same Lord our God.


SHAPE: Listening to your heart

Your heart represents the source of all your motivations – what you love to do and what you care about most.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Your heart tells everything about you:

Your heart determines why you say the things you do, why you feel the way you do, and why you act the way you do.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Find your heartbeat – the care for some things and not for others. This is one of the clues to know where you should be serving. There is another word for heart, which is passion. There is always something that you are very passionate about and it catches your attention easily. For me, I guess my heartbeat lies at worship team; I really enjoy worshiping God through music. Maybe I should consider giving talks about a God who is truly real, all the time? Well, this is another heartbeat that I can think of. We’ll see about it, shall we?
Your this emotional heartbeat is also the key to understanding your shape of worship.

Don’t ignore your interests. Consider how they might be used for God’s glory.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

I guess I need to find a time to settle down and think about this: my interests, my strong points, etc and start to use them for God’s glory. And of course, when we are serving, we serve God passionately, not dutifully. So listen to our inner promptings, which can point us to ministry of which God intends us to be. But sometimes we feel difficult to know if you are serving from your heart. But there are some characteristics of it:

1. Enthusiasm. You are still very motivated to do the thing you love to do, and no one has to motivate you, no one has to check you, no one has to challenge you, you need not rewards nor applause; you just love to serve God this way. When you don’t have this enthusiasm, you are easily discouraged.

2. Effectiveness. We know that passion drives perfection. You will do well because your heart is there.

The highest achievers in any field are those who do it because of passion, not duty or profit
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Serve God in the way that expresses your heart. This is the better life for us. The life which God gave us. The heart that do things for God’s glory.





Vincent

Day 29: Accept your assignment

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
Deutschland won against Turkey. What say you? =) MediaMarkt will have sales again. LoL.
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Day 29: Accept your assignment

Assignment? Yes. Your life on earth is not just to consume the resources, but to give something back to this world. And God gave the fourth purpose for our life, and it is called service, or ministry.

1. You were created to serve God. In Bible it says:

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10

We are being created to serve the God. This is the special work that God assigned us for.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations”
Jeremiah 1:5

God told this to Jeremiah, appointing him as the prophet. This is the special work for him. What about you?

2. You were saved to serve God.

…[God] who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.
2 Timothy 1:9

The holy life here means service, and you are saved for it. You have a unique task in heaven to fulfill. This is a great significant for you. Jesus has died on the cross to purchase your salvation. Therefore, we don’t serve God out of guilt or fear, but the deep gratitude for all that He has done for us.

Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Apostle John taught that our loving service to others shows that we are really saved:

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.
1 John 3:14

Most of us don’t understand that “ministry” does not only means pastors, priests, and professional clergy; God means every member of his family is a minister.
This is what we should do:

We are healed to help others. We are blessed to be a blessing. We are saved to serve, not to sit around and wait for heaven.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

A thing to remember is that we are not immediately taken up to heaven at the moment we accepted Christ is because God has a ministry for you in His church and a mission for you in the world.

3. You are called to serve God. God calls every child of His to service. “Called?” you might ask.

Anytime you use your God-given abilities to help others, you are fulfilling your calling.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Something that we must ask ourselves is that how much time are we being useful in the service of God? We need to be connected to a church family to fulfill your calling to serve other believers in practical ways. There are no significant ministries in church. Some are visible for example the worship team, some are off-stage such as the technical team, but all are valuable. In fact, those behind the curtains are those that most important. Without them, the worship team cannot perform well on stage, no? Every ministry matters because all are connected and dependent on each other.
What happen when a part of your body not functioning as it is supposed to be? You fall sick. Likewise, we should not sit on the sidelines as spectators, while watching the body suffers.

4. You are commanded to serve God. In the Bible it was written:

“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28

Holy living consists in doing God’s work with a smile.
Mother Teresa

Jesus taught that spiritual maturity is never an end in itself. We must act on what we know and practice what we believe. We need more serving experiences in which we can exercise our spiritual muscles. The mature follower of Jesus will ask, “Whose needs can I meet?” Do you ever ask that question?

Preparing for eternity
God will evaluate us on the very end of the day. We as Christians don’t want to lose the eternal rewards in heaven, do we?

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Mark 8:35

Therefore, if you are not serving, you just exist. Learn to love and serve others unselfishly – that is what God wants from us.

Service and significance
We will give our lives for serving others unselfishly. It is the pathway to real significance. It is where we discover the real meaning of our lives. We serve together in God’s family, and our lives take on eternal importance. In Bible we saw God used various kinds of people. And of course, God will also use you too, if you stop making excuses not to serve Him.





Vincent

Day 28: It takes time

..::*+ Small Talk +*::.

The internet is really testing my patience. What is wrong? Anyway, had a real terrible day, yesterday (Tuesday, 24.06.2008). It was really a tiring day – woke up at 5.30am (GMT +1), then cycle to school, waited for German friend, and went for preparation of Konstruktion Wettbewerb, which took place today (Wednesday 25.06.2008). Will update about it tomorrow.

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Day 28: It takes time

Maturity is a slow process and there are no by-pass shortcuts to it. In the context of development of Christlike character, the Fruit of the Spirit grows slowly. I never knew tomatoes are collected while they are unripe and are sprayed with CO₂ gas in selling stores to turn them to red. And these are, of course, no match for the real ripe tomatoes fresh from farm.

While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ. When we let God takes control over everything, He promised that His works will be carry on until completion.

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
Philippians 1:6

It will be an amazing journey which involves believing (through worship), belonging (through fellowship), and becoming (through discipleship). But in this journey we should not too obsessed with speed. But God said it should be slow and gradual.

Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.
2 Corinthians 3:18b New Century Version

You might say, “Hey, if God is powerful and almighty, why don’t He just change us instantly?” Why does it take so much time to change and grow up?

1. We are slow learners. Often we have to repeat something over and over again. Say in badminton, to train myself to be better, I practiced the correct badminton movements every training session. And about the service shot, it took me 2 years to fully master it. Likewise, He wants us to learn slowly. There’s no point if today you are Christlike but tomorrow you turn back to your old habits.

2. We have a lot to unlearn. People often go to counselor to ask help for personal or relational problem. And often they ask so that the problems that took years to develop can be solved instantly. Do you think it’s possible for something that takes so many years to develop to change within an hour, or a day?

While you are given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Yes, and I want to get to remove my old unhealthy habits.

3. We are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves. We are often being pulled back by our pasts – those bad memories, hurting moments, unintentional or intentional attitudes, bad thoughts, etc. The truth, however, is that we are all being set free. The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced our character defects keeps us living in the prison of denial. Therefore, let go our proud, and be humble and teachable.

4. Growth is often painful and scary. Often this growth, or change, is very painful.

There is no growth without change; there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Let go our old ways to take in the new. Instead of holding back to what you think, why not think this way: Who will I be, if I let go of my habit, my hurt, my hang-up, my hatred?

5. Habits take time to develop. It means, we need to practice Christlike character to have a Christlike character. Paul urged Timothy:

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
1 Timothy 4:15

Repetition is the key for character and skill building. Therefore, practice them more.

Don’t get in a hurry
Cooperate with God instead.
1. Believe God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it. It says in Bible that,

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Pray for gradual change. Understand that over time, things can be solved. And remember, God has His own timing.

2. Keep a notebook or journal or lessons learned. In other words, note down what you have learn. Blog it out like me is a way of it, writing in a special private book is also a choice. It is an account so that we can reread what we have learned when we forget them. In the Book of Esther, King Xerxes ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign and found out Mordecai was not given anything for revealing the attempt by Bigthana and Teresh to assassinate the king. He then honored Mordecai. The point here is that, we might learn something new from what we have learned in the past, or at least, it keeps yourself reminded of what you have learned.

3. Be patient with God and with yourself. Seldom is our timetable the same as God’s. When you want something to be in hurry, God let it to come slowly instead. You will roar with frustration. But people, remember always, that God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. His plans for you are a perfectly scheduled. And there is no allowance for accidents to happen.

4. Don’t get discouraged. God said this to Habakkuk when he became depressed of God that he thought God was not acting quickly enough:

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.
Habakkuk 2:3

God always on time, no?

Remember of how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

God is not done with you, therefore, keep going on!




Vincent

Day 27: Defeating temptation

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..

I love this chapter very much~

By the way, today we had some street evangelism at Stuttgart Stadtmitte. It was fun and another great experience. I'm now preparing myself to serve in technical team and worship team in my church. Pray for me =)

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Day 27: Defeating temptation

There is always a way out. God will never let us drink 100+ and outdo ourselves in the war with temptation. And this is my favorite-and-100%-memorized-and-unforgettable verse:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1. Corinthians 10:13

*congratulate to myself for typing it out without a single mistake after checking it in my New International Version (NIV) Bible =D *

However, we need to practice four biblical keys to defeat temptation.

1. Refocus your attention on something else. I find this very true: Today after came back from church service in Stuttgart, since internet down, Jia Jin and me had a jog somewhere near our hostel. And at the first ¼ of the first lap, I really felt like turn to Jia Jin and say, "hey, I'm tired, why don't we stop now?" However I remembered this point and focus on something else. I'm not telling you what am I thinking, but I can say I'm not thinking bad thoughts. And in the end I was able to run 2 and ½ laps.

Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. By resisting it, you actually reinforce it.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

As discussed before, temptation always starts with a thought. Therefore, the quickest way to neutralize it is to turn your attention to something else. Just change your channel of thinking.

Keep me away from paying attention to what is worthless.
Psalms 119:27a

When people yawns, we have the unintentional "uhmm" to follow. When you watch food advertisement, you get hungry, even if you have just eaten, say 10 minutes ago. That's why Rick Warren said:

We naturally move toward whatever we focus our attention on. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Therefore, ignoring temptation is the best way. Don't deal with it. When it calls you, don't pick up the phone. When you have something else in your mind, temptation loses its power. Overcome the evil with good. Don't pay Satan any attention. Let him be what-Malaysian-so-called Syok Sendiri.

Above all else, guard your heart,
For it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23

2. Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group. You need not to broadcast to the whole world. For me, I have a wonderful mentor to pour everything to. And he listens and gives advices. And sometimes the advices are the same – "what are you doing (to overcome it)?" Simple and yet it's like a check-up for yourself. Similarly, you can find a mentor for yourself, or just talk to your cell group members. We need someone to be there for us. Find people who you can trust – who you can be most honest with. They can also be the one to pray for you, encourage you, and hold you accountable. One of the benefits of group prayers is that it is stronger. Besides, it is stated also in the Bible:

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
James 5:16

We are all in the same boat. So why do we need to listen to Satan to jump out from the boat, and to be exact, God's boat? Need not to hide your sins because of pride. You can't handle things on your own. You are not God. Don't pretend as if you have no problem in life. You are just either afraid to tell out, or just wanting to solve it on your own. And again, you are not God to solve things with your 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 eyes, 2 ears, a nose, a mouth and a brain.

2. Resist the Devil. But how? It is clearly written in the Bible:

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17

We see here that there are two parts:

a) Acknowledge God's salvation. Say yes to Christ – it means say no to Devil. The helmet protects our mind. Satan cannot force you to do something – he can only suggest. So put on God's helmet, shield your brain from polluted suggestions.

b) Use the Word of God as your weapon. Jesus quoted Scripture's words when he was tempted by Satan. He did not argue with Satan. He just referred simply to Scripture.

There is power in God's Word, and Satan fears it.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

This is why memorizing Bible verses are essential and come useful whenever we face problems in life. You have the truth to counter Satan's lure.

If you don't have any Bible verses memorized, you've got no bullets in your gun!
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

3. Reveal your vulnerability. We need to not be overconfident. Jeremiah said:

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Jeremiah 17:9

It means we are good in fooling ourselves. Any of us can commit sins, given the right circumstances. I admit it, as it applies to me. As discussed, don't place yourself in tempting situations. Rick Warren mentioned something which I think very true:

Remember that it is easier to stay out of temptation than to get out of it.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Don't be so naïve and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.
1 Corinthians 10:12 The Message

Vincent

Day 26: Growing through temptation

Day 26: Growing through temptation

What is temptation, in the first place?

Temptation simply provides the choice.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Temptation is just another Satan's weapon to destroy you. When we choose to feed the good one, we are growing in the character of Christ. But we need to identify the character qualities of Jesus beforehand. But it is not very hard; it is stated in the Bible:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

In other words, to be like Jesus, these are the qualities that we must have in ourselves. And Holy Spirit does not just produce the fruit in us instantly. Fruit always matures and ripens slowly.

God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality! Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

God allows chaos and confusions in us to develop peace in us, and that is when we choose to trust God in circumstances in which we are tempted to worry or be scared.

You can't claim to be good if you've never been tempted to be bad. You can't claim to be faithful if you've never had the opportunity to be unfaithful. Integrity is built by defeating the temptation to be dishonest; humility grows when we refuse to be prideful; and endurance develops every time you reject the temptation to give up. Every time you defeat a temptation, you become more like Jesus.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

A long quote, but that' what I think significant and of which I highlighted.

How temptation works

Satan uses four-step process to tempt us. Paul said:

For we are not unaware of his (Satan's) schemes.
2. Corinthians 2:11

1. Satan identifies a desire inside of you. It could be a sinful desire, for example to revenge, or just legitimate, normal one, such as to be loved and valued by others. It is all started with a suggestion by Satan that we give in to an evil desire. "You deserve better" and "It is exciting, comforting" resounds in your head. God says temptation begins within us; it is not laid around us.

For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside ad make a man 'unclean'.
Mark 7:21-23

2. Satan confuses us and makes us doubt. "Sins, are they really wrong?" "Did God really say you cannot do this?" And in the end, we confused.

Watch out! Don't let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12 Contemporary English Version

3. Satan's deception. But we know his is the Father of lies. What he tells is untrue, or just half-true.

4. Our disobedience. We take in Satan's words and fall for the trap. James warns us:

Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
James 1:14-16

Overcoming temptation

1. Refuse to be intimidated. We will never outgrow temptation. It is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was too tempted, but He never sin.

You can't keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts, but you can choose not to dwell or act on them.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

2. Recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it. In other words, understand yourself. If you know yourself will always fall for temptation to play DotA like me, uninstall WarCraft: III^© like me. If you can't stop yourself from keep on playing Civilization^© like Jia Jin, break it into pieces and into rubbish bin you throw it, just like Jia Jin. My point is, know how will you be tempted, and avoid it. Paul said:

Do not give the Devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:27

Now, if the Devil asks me to play DotA, I'll just smile back to him, "how to play if I don't have the game, the CD, everything? Want me to download it? Internet in my hostel down. Hu hu hu~" I made it so informal, but this is how I overcome =)

3. Request God's help. God is a 24/7 hotline. So don't hesitate to give him a SOS call.

and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.
Psalms 50:15

God wants us through temptations to grow into Christlike. If it is so, why don't we turn to him more often? If you fall for a certain temptation again and again, like me, go back to God for help.

God never gets irritated, bored, or impatient when we keep coming back to Him.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

I prayed so hard and long, before I decide to uninstall WarCraft: III^©, you know. I prayed until cried, knowing myself that I loved DotA-ing very much. I enjoyed playing with people from all around the world. But after the cry I smiled, because finally, life will never be the same again. It has been a bad habit for me to indulge in it and play until 3:00am (GMT+1:00) here in Germany, or 6:00am (GMT+8:00) in Cemara back in Malaysia last time. It was really a distorted life. But anyway, ask God for the power to do the right thing and then expect Him to provide it. Are you thinking the Bible Verse like I do?

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receive; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7

Yes, and instead of giving in or giving up, why not look up to God, expect Him to help you, and remember the reward that is waiting for you.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12

Serving the Lord our God,

Vincent

Day 25: Transformed by trouble

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
Internet remains dead. I don’t know how to wait. I can’t blog in my Hochschule – the students are too loud for me to concentrate on my thoughts and generate correct words. Result? See the last two posts. Not well-done written. At home, I can’t write online-ly. Sigh.

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Day 25: Transformed by trouble

We all face problems daily. And God has His own purpose behind them. Indeed God changes us through Bible-reading, but He is more interested to change us through circumstances.

Jesus himself even warned us that we all will face problems every day.

“… In this world you will have trouble. But that heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:3

Nobody is excluded from sufferings and no one will have a problem-free life. When you solve one, another comes. Some are big and heavy, some are small and light; but all of these are significant in God’s eyes. But Peter comforted in Bible us:

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
1. Peter 4:12

God, in fact, uses problems to draw you closer to Himself. It is all when we turn to God alone.

When life is rosy, we may slide by knowing about Jesus, with imitating Him and quoting Him and speaking of Him. But only in suffering will we know Him.
Joni Eareckson

In Bible we saw lots of people suffered, even though they were very faithful. God could have just given His hand a swing and everything would be settled. But He did not. He let them happened instead, and all of them were drawn closer to Him.

You will never know that God is all you need until God is all you have got.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

But be reminded that all of your problems are approved by God. In other words, He let them to happen. He intends to use it for good even when Satan and others mean it for bad. It reminds me that in Kung-Fu Panda the Master Wu Gui said: “there is no accident.” And same goes as God. He never make mistakes, nor clumsy.

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His son.
Romans 8:28-29 New Living Translation

Understanding Romans 8:28-29
Read carefully the verses. It does not say that God will make everything the way you want them to be. Neither has it said God causes all things to have happy ending on earth. Remember always, we are in earthly world. Everything is perfect only in heaven. And Rick Warren suggested breaking the verses into parts:

“We know” – Our hope in difficult times are based on the truths that God is in complete control of our universe and that He loves us.

“that God causes” – We are not random creations. God never make mistakes. He pulls the string of everything you can think of in this earth.

“everything” – God plans everything. Yes, your mistakes, your temptations… everything, He planned them all.

“to work together” – All events in your life work together in God’s plan. God blends your everything-bad experiences together.

“for the good” – Everything bad and good in this world, God will bring the good out of them. His purpose is greater than our problems, pain, and even sins.

“for those who love God and are called” – God’s promise for His children.

“according to His purpose” – The purpose, that is, “become like His son.

Building Christlike character
God will use whatever it takes to shape us. Every problem is a character-building opportunity – the more difficult a problem is, the greater potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber.

Your circumstances are temporary, but your character will last forever.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

When we have been refined by trails, others see Jesus’ reflection in us. And the refining process includes experiences that Jesus went through.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
Romans 8:17

Responding to problems as Jesus would
Remember that God’s plan is good. He knows the best for us. My favorite quote:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

Therefore, stay focus on His plan.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down on the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18

Rejoice and give thanks.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1. Thessalonians 5:18

Read the verse carefully. We are not asked to give thanks for all circumstances, but in all circumstances. Give thanks in these bad times, for it is His will to use the problems to fulfill His purpose in you. We know also that God is going through the pain with us. We will never got stranded or left alone by God.

Refuse to give up. Be patient and persistent always. Remind yourself always that character building is a slow process and it takes time. Therefore, don’t ask “why me?” but instead, “God, what do You want me to learn?”

Time to grow up, no?


Vincent

Day 24: Transformed by Truth

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
God, please help me.
God, why do I have this impatience in me? I need a peaceful mind to write all these entries.

I want to cry, but I don't know what to cry for. That's why, I can't cry.

I... I don't know. Calm the raging sea in me. I... believe in You.

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Day 24: Transformed by Truth

Jesus said, "sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
John 17:17

The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us like the Son of God. Thus, to be Christlike, we must fill our lives with his Words.

God's Word is unlike any other word in this world. It is alive. If we look in the Book of Genesis, God created the world by Words. The whole Chapter one of this book tells us how God created this world - all by His Words.

God's Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever!
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

His Word should be considered as essential food of our life. Job said:

I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
Job 23:12

Abiding in God's Word

Having a Bible at bookshelf without reading it is pointless. We need to feed ourselves with God's Words. Jesus called this "abiding".

If you abide My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.
John 8:31 New American Standard Bible

Then comes the same question: How? There are ways, of course, and they include:

1. I must accept its authority. The Bible must be the only compass that I'm relying on for my direction, the counsel I listen to, and the benchmark I use to evaluate everything. It must be the first and last word in my life.

Often unauthorized elements take over: culture, tradition, reason or emotion. Now you must know for yourself, who you want the authority to belong to. You must choose Bible as your final authority. Refer back to the Bible when you face problems, but the other four. Trust that whatever God asks you to do, you need not to understand straight-away before you do it. Often God shows us His true purpose. A testimony that I want to share is that, it was an event yesterday. I was searching for my "handsfree set of my W910i. And I couldn't find it. No matter how I searched. I began to suspect my housemates. There was really the urge to confront them - knocking their doors and ask. But, God somehow spoken in my mind, "be patient, this is My test of your faith. Now, sit down. Pray to Me. And go find it again."

And guess what, I found it in my bag - the one which I searched twice and I thought it was 100% not inside there. Here, I guess I was tested 2 elements: patience and trust. Not trusting Him that God wants to teach me, but trust in people around me. When I think back again, it was indeed a higher level of test that God wanted me to sit. And I nearly fail. Frustration nearly explode.

2. I must assimilate its truth. Fill our minds with Bible Words so that the Holy Spirit can work in me. It is not hard - there are five ways: receive it, read it, research it, remember it, and reflect on it.

a) receive it, with open, receptive attitude. The parable of sower spoken by Jesus told us about these unreceptive attitudes - closed mind ( hard soil), superficial mind (shallow soil), distracted mind (soil with weeds). Check on ourselves when things seem not right.

b) read it. Bible was once a sacred book that the high priests in church had access to it. Nowadays, we all can have this chance. So spend more time on the book, not on television. Do you know that by just spending 15 minutes a day, you can read through the Bible once within a year?

c) research it. Think critically when you are reading the book. Sometimes by the 5W1H questions (what, when, where, why, who, how), you will know far more.

d) remembering it. You might say that your brain is weak and memory-discharge easily. But keep it up. Take time to memorize them. There are lots of promising benefits. It will help us resist temptations, make wise decisions, reduce stresses and many more. How to remember? My mentor taught me to read it aloud. And yes, you might laugh, but this was what we learned during kindergarten times, no? Teacher always ask us to read aloud, so that we can remember.

e) reflect on it. In other words, "meditate". Focus on the verse, reflect it in life, when was it in our life that these verses helped us.

3. I must apply its principles. We must apply them into our daily lives. Be the doer of the words.

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built is house on the rock.
Matthew 7:24

One thing important is that the truth will set you free. God will show us our bad, our weaknesses, our sins, and expects us to change. It is a hard work to change, since resist changing is a natural human nature. Therefore, it is important to discuss the personal application with someone. And to me, I think finding a mentor to guide you would be a wise idea.

Develop the habit of writing down exactly what you intend to do. This action step should be personal, practical, and provable.

Every application will involve either your relationship to God, your relationship to others, or your personal character.

What does God has asked you to do through His Words and you haven't do? Write them down. And begin to think of steps to do them.

And oh ya, if you happen to visit my room , I guess you will see lots of small but important things that I want to do, pinned on the board. =)

"remember to brush teeth before sleep and after wake up"

"40 days commitment for Purpose Driven Life with Stephanie"

"Don't purposely sleep late"

" What are you doing now"


ha ha.

Vincent

Day 23: How we grow

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..

Rush rush rush... Hostel internet down. So having troubles in posting up entries.

*Or was it just an excuse?*

**I guess so. =(

Should have done better. Sigh.

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Day 23: How we grow

And of course, God does not just expect you to say, "Yes, I believe in Jesus!" and that's all. No, He wants you to grow up. Grow into Christlike. And of course, growing up is our conscious choice. It takes intentional commitment.

You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.
Rick Warren -The Purpose Driven Life

The process of becoming Christlike - discipleship - always begin with a decision. Jesus called us, and we say, "yes, I'll follow you".

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Matthew 9:9

Notice what is special here? Matthew did not ask, "Jesus of Nazareth, why should I follow you?" but instead he just follow. And that's all we need also: Decide to become a disciple.

Commitments in life can either develop you or destroy you, but either way, it will define you. But here is where many people miss God's purpose for their lives. They commit nothing at all; Or they vow half-hearted commitments; Or they make full commitments to worldly goals - wealthy, famous... which ended up disappointed and bitter.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.
2. Peter 3:11

So back to the question: How?

God's part and your part. Of course Christlikeness is the result of making Christlike choices and depending on his Spirit to help you fulfill those choices. To do so, we will need to let go of some old routines, develop some new habits, and intentionally change the way you think. One thing for sure, the Holy Spirit will give you a hand.

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13

Notice again the two keywords here - work in and work out? Work out is your responsibility, and the work in is God's role.

Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

It's interesting here, you see, that in that verse it does not say "work for" your salvation. Why? Because it has been done - the whole point of Jesus' death on the cross. Instead it says "work out". Why? It's just like when you're solving a puzzle, you "work it out", and you already have all the pieces there, and now you need to combine them together.

God has given you a new life; now you are responsible to develop it "with fear and trembling".
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Fear and tremble? It means, take your spiritual growth seriously. Understand the eternal implication.

Changing your autopilot.

Behind everything you do is a thought. Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Above all else, guard you heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23

We do not try to change our lives with force, our own force. Because you will feel constant resistance, and changing the surface does not change the root cause. So things might be a good start for you, but it will eventually go back to the same old way - the way that you don't want. But there's a better way - Change the way you think. Transform yourself into a new person by changing the way you think. It is also the first step in spiritual growth.

The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Develop the mind of Christ. And this calls repentance in Bible. How? There are two points to remember:
1. Stop thinking immature thoughts.

Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in you thinking be adults.
1. Corinthians 14:20

Do not think of yourselves like a baby.

Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want.
Romans 8:5 New Century Version

2. Start thinking maturely. Focus on others, not yourself.

A lot of people assume that spiritual maturity is measured by the amount of biblical knowledge we have. Yes, but it is only one measurement of maturity. One thing to remember is that Christianity is a relationship and a lifestyle. And thinking of others is the heart of Christlikeness and the best evidence of spiritual growth. Sounds hard, don't it? But rejoice:

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 2:12a Contemporary English Version

Vincent

Day 22: Created to become like Christ

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..

I'm not idiot >.<

Check check...
*What are you doing now, Qi Hao?*
**Imma good boy young man today!**
*Good good*
**Thank you!**

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Day 22: Created to become like Christ

A long journey I had, I would say. And now, I'm at the 22nd Chapter. And it tells me the 3rd purpose of life - you were created to become like Christ.

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..
Genesis 1:26

Image? Likeness? Like how? We do not know all, but there are some aspects that we know:
1. Like God, we are spiritual beings - our spirits are immortal and last eternally.
2. We are intellectual - We can think, reason and solve problems.
3. Like God, we are relational - We give and receive love
4. We have a moral consciousness - We differentiate right from wrong.

And all of these link to one - It looks like Jesus Christ! God wants His children to bear His image and likeness. We know we will never become God. But many still fall for this cliché sweet words of Satan's. This was what happened in Garden of Eden.

God does not want you to become a god; He wants you to become godly - taking on His values, attitudes and character.

You were taught, with regards to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24

Our ultimate goal for life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow to be like Christ. It does not mean loosing your own personality, but about transforming your character, not your personality.

Christlikeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

God wants us to develop the beatitudes of Jesus, the fruit of the Spirit, Paul's great chapter on love, and last but not least, Peter's list of the characteristics of an effective and productive life.

Life is supposed to be difficult. So don't complain so much, but instead be happy of it, for it is what enables us to grow. Earth is not heaven!!

Jesus did not promise a life of perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization of your dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer. Forget not that God is not your servant. And Life is about God. We exist for His purpose, and this is not vice versa.

Why would God provide heaven on earth when he's planned the real thing for you in eternity?
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

God's Spirit working in you

Holy Spirit has the job to produce Christlike character in us.

... until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13

Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God want to make in our lives. You yourself are not able to do so on your own. When talk about Holy Spirit, many of us will think of miraculous signs and wonders and intense emotions. But most of the time Holy Spirit works in a gentle whisper.

Christlikeness is not produced by imitation, but by inhabitation.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

How? Through the choices we made. We choose to do the right thing in situations and then trust God's Spirit to give us what He think we deserve to have. We are always available for these asking, since God's Spirit lives in us.

Thus, we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work. A clear thing in the Bible is that, the Holy Spirit releases His power the moment we take a step of faith. There are lots of examples of this. And remember, obedience unlocks God's power. Just do it. Act first. Don't wait until you feel powerful or confident. Take along your weaknesses and move ahead, do the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how your character develops.

The Bible compares spiritual growth to a seed, a building, and a child growing up. Each metaphor requires active participation: Seeds must be planted and cultivated, buildings must be built - they don't just appear - and children must eat and exercise to grow.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Effort has nothing to do with your salvation, but you spiritual growth. Paul in Ephesians 4:22-24 explained 3 responsibilities to become Christlike:
1. Choose to let go of old ways of acting.
2. Change the way we think.
3. "Put on" the character of Christ by developing new, godly habits.


God uses His Words, people and circumstances to mold us. God's Words provide the truth we need to grow, God's people provide the support that we need to grow, and circumstances provide the environment we need to practice Christlikeness. Bible study and prayer alone is not enough. And for people like us, we are more convinced through testimonies rather than a book, no?

So we must learn to be around with other people and interact with them. Be part of church and community. Why?

Because true spiritual maturity is all about learning to love like Jesus, and you can't practice being like Jesus without being in relationship with other people. Remember, it's all about love - loving God and other people.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Becoming Christlike is a long, slow process of growth. God is far more interested in building your character than he is anything else. Becoming like Him is a process that will take your entire life on earth. Jesus did not lie on the cross so just that we could live comfortable, well-adjusted life. He wants to make us like himself before he takes us to heaven. Our privilege, our immediate responsibility, and our ultimate destiny.


Vincent

Day 21: Protecting your church

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..

Don't get extreme excited when you say I want to change into a better person. Saying those sweet words prove nothing unless you really do it.

What are you doing - to learn to become more Christlike?
What are you doing - to prepare yourself to lead a Care Group in the future, here in Heilbronn?
What are you doing - to prepare yourself to able to say you love her and take care of her and to be a good husband?
What are you doing - to prepare yourself for the exams which start on 10th July?

What are you doing - when you have so much free time?

I could not answer all, except the last one. That is why, I uninstalled WarCraft III and Need For Speed: Most Wanted. This is not what I want, though they accompanied me for 2 years at least. Memorial, indeed. DotA has accompanied me through winds and storms (direct translate). All the cheerful memories back in INTEC. With ALM - Tim and gang, ALM vs ALG DotA games, Anub'Arak's Vendetta, my super-owning-beyond-Godlike Gondar, Pau's Abbadon, XiangYu's morphling, YenZhao's Lina, Daniel's Rogue Knight... But, it's the time to let go. It has to end here, now. They bring me nowhere near my purpose of life. And very thankful to Steffen, you motivated me, indirectly.

The time, I want to spend on:
1. Learn to love God more deeply.
2. To serve in my church - technical team, then worship team.
3. Building better relationship with other people.
4. Restore broken relationship with those that I hurt and those that hurt me in the past.
5. Equip myself to take up more tasks.
6. Equip myself to be ready for her. Don't be touched, hehe
7. Prepare myself to be a reliable leader.

Lucky 7, lucky goals. Pray for me, so that I can manage these tasks for the rest of 2008. It's never too late for a new year resolution. Pray for me, okie? A heavy challenge for me - I need your prayers - yes, all of you, my fellow readers.

What are you doing?
Jia Jin

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Day 21: Protecting your church

Unity in the church is very that the New Testament pays more attention to it than to either heaven or hell. Rick Warren also thinks it is important:

Unity is the soul of fellowship. Destroy it, and you rip the heart out of Christ's Body.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

It is indeed this unity is the core of what God wants us to experience life together in his church. The best model of it is the Trinity - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and God himself showed the highest example of sacrificial love, humble, and perfect harmony.

Every parent wants his children to get along with each other. And God, as our heavenly Father, enjoy this too. In Bible we know that Jesus still prayed passionately for our unity during his final moments before being arrested. God treasures His church very much, and He wants it protected from devastating damage, caused by division, conflict, and disharmony. And God gave us this responsibility to protect the unity where you fellowship.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3

And now comes the question: How?

1. Focus on what we have in common, not our differences. In Bible it says:

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Romans 14:19

We share the only God, one body, one purpose, one Father, same salvation, same life, same future. These are some of the factors that are more important than any of our differences. Forget not also that God is the one that created us differently. Backgrounds, personalities, races, preferences, cultures... We should enjoy them, not merely tolerate them. And remember always, that:

God wants unity, not uniformity.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Learn to love each other as Christ has loved us. This is what we should stay focus on. This is also part of reasons what happened in the Small Talk. Remember too that conflict is usually the sign that we focus on other less important issues, things the Bible calls "disputable matters".

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1. Corinthians 1:10

Still remember this verse?

2. Be realistic in your expectation. There is such thing as ideal church. I used to think that every church needs to have a clear structure, hierarchy sort-of-stuffs. But no, it is about Him. And despite the imperfections, we must still love the church passionately. Your church leader, other believers or even your fellowship team will disappoint you. But they are your family, and God tells us that:

Being completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2

Remember church is made up of real sinners. Because we are sinners, we often hurt each other, intentionally or unintentionally. But we need to stay and work out reconciliation, not running away. This is the road to stronger character and deeper fellowship. There is no so-called "perfect church" for us to run to. And if there really is such a thing, you are not qualified to be member too, because you yourself are imperfect.

Disillusionment is a good thing, because it destroy our false expectations of perfection. We must then give up the illusion and start admitting we're all imperfect and need grace. This is the beginning of real community.

He who loves his dream of community more than the Christian community itself becomes the destroyer of the latter.
Dietrich Bonhöffer, a German Pastor

3. Choose to encourage rather than criticize. God warns us not to criticize, compare, nor judge each other.

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:4

Let's focus on the first 2 sentences.When we judge another believer, 4 things happen instantly:
1. I lose fellowship with God.
2. I expose my own pride and insecurity.
3. I set myself up to be judged by God.
4. I harm the fellowship of the church.

The Bible calls Satan "the accuser of brothers". And if we complain, blame and criticize, we actually doing Satan's job. No other Christian is your real enemy. We should have spend the time criticizing someone to build the unity of our fellowship instead.

4. Refuse to listen to gossip. Gossip is passing on information when you are involve neither in the part of the problem nor the solution. Listen not to gossip to protect your church.

Listening to gossip is like accepting stolen property, and it makes you just as guilty of the crime.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Ask the person to stop telling you gossips. You need not to know. Have you asked the involved person directly? God calls gossipers as troublemakers, and they are the ones who split churches, thinking only themselves.

5. Practice God's method for conflict resolution. Jesus tells us how to do it:

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses'. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."
Matthew 18:15-17

And of course, the last part is the so-called last resort that we do not want to do, no? When you have conflict with someone, pray to God to help u out, and confront that person. Do not make thing worse. Follow how Jesus told you to do.

6. Support your pastor and leaders. Remember there is no this "perfect leader" and there is not even a specific cut-off line that separates you and a leader.

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Hebrews 13:17

We protect the fellowship when we honor those who serve us by leading. They need our prayers too. Our church leader, Steffen asked us during church evaluation to pray for him to make a wise decision - the balance between career and God.


Accept your responsibility to protect and promote the unity of your church. Put full effort in it and God will be pleased. Do things that is the best of the Body, not yourself. That is one of the reasons of what church is all about - to learn unselfishness.

Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
1. Corinthians 10:24

God blesses churches that are unified.

What are you doing personally to make your church family more warming and loving?
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

This "what are you doing" question just came back. Indeed, a simple question, but covered every single aspect of life.

What are you doing?





Vincent