Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless(Bertrand Russel,atheist)
What I have learnt.
-It's not about me.
-focusing on myself will never reveal my life's purpose.
-I was made by God for God.
-It is only in God that I find my origin,identity, meaning,purpose,significance, and my destiny.
-Self help is no help at all.
--the easiest way to understand the purpose of an invention is ask the Creator. Ask God.
-He has revealed 5 purposes for us through the Owner's Manual. the bible.
-God is not the starting point of my life. He is the source.
-To discover my purpose I must turn to the Word and build my life based on Eternal truths and not worldly issues.
-i discover my identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
-God was thinking of me way long before i ever thought of him.
-i may choose my career, my spouse, my hobbies, and many parts of my life, but i dont get to choose my purpose.
-Without God life makes no sense.
DAY ONE-thinking about my purpose. Points to ponder:Its not about me. Verse to remember: Col 1:16
Q to consider: in spite of all the advertising round me, how can i remind myself that life is really about living for God,not myself?
I've always thought about this before becoming a christian. What is my purpose in life? why am I here... the basis of evolution doesnt make sense at all. everything has a purpose. When my friends told me that we just happened to be and... well.. it didnt make sense. Right now, my whole believe is put on God, and nothing can shake that. but yea, there's too much 'advertising' going on around me. Even at home. My housemate doesnt believe in a God thatis in control of his life,and im basically trying to avoid this topic because it is contrary to everything god says. How can i remind myself that life is really about God... Its really hard, because we get so caught up in the worldly stuff. University, career, love life, my wants, my needs, my pleasures, my my my. but I think the best way to remind ourselves is to go back to the roots of live. when God created Adam and Eve, and keep in mind the purpose of them being created.
Verses used in this chapter. Job 12:10 Rom 8:6 Mt 16:25 1 Cor 2:7 Eph 1:11
*If you dont wanna read this, because you wanna experience the book by yourself, by all means, skip this posts. I will have the book pic as a reminder.
Havent written in a long while. I guess, because i was distracted. But I seriously wanna come back to God now. so many things have been happening. i just dont know how to handle them. I feel so cluttered. So disorganized. My soul is filled with toxic junk, as well as my body. its all just staying inside, never coming out... making me sick.. fell sick, look sick..
I depend on people so much. to be accepted, to be needed. never once did i care of myself. i didnt think i would deserve it. But i do. I need a break from the junk of the world. I need to cleanse myself, spiritually and also physically. Clean out the spiderwebs, and kill the spider.
I wonder if God of me, or he's just sad looking at me. i asked someone if he was proud of me, and he said yes. no matter what. I think God is the same too. He is always proud of us, because no matter how we backslide, we always pick ourselves up and run to him. not so much for the 'give upers', the ones that forget God is in charge and that we need him.
I might not show it much. But I really love God. I really do. I dont wanna live a facade of a life. i want to be a genuine Jesus Freak. I wanna shine like his light unto the world. Im sick of being useless and self hating. How can something bad bring something good into my life?
Im thankful. because I know that He loves me. Most of us dont.
I wanna start fresh. Here we go soul. Lets get started.
*** I have bought this book, 'The Purpose Driven Life' by Rick Warren, and I will start it tomorrow, and post everyday on each chapter.And, anyone who wants to join me on reading this book.. just post comments down there... (how come no one posts comments,just in the cbox><) I'd like to know who will be following my book read
Hey everybody. Firstly, Ive been noticing a lot of newcomers to my blog. First of all, welcome. secondly... Hey... why dont you guys(or gurls) post a shoutout so I know who you are and where you're from and possibly even your blog so I can visit it too? I known new people are coming in everyday, but I have no idea who you all are. Comments are not so hard... right??
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—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
Ephesians 2:8-9; for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
God confuses me. A lot. Today in sermon, the preacher mentioned Philippians 2:12-13. And I knew it was God speaking to me because we have been having a problem regarding this issue (LINK). I still stand my ground, but you see, we can never read the bible bit by bit and expect to understand what God is saying.
How is it that we are given grace through faith and yet asked to work out our salvation with fear and trembling… I did some research, and at first I thought God was contradicting himself… But then I realized, that no… God is perfect. He knows what he is saying. It doesn’t contradict at all.
This is what god revealed to me.
We are given free salvation, undeserving though. We can never earn salvation. It is only by faith that we are saved, and it is a gift of God. Not a wage of our earnings. God doesn’t see the ones that are good in life and that is bad in life and give them their salvation according to their works. It is free to every human, every soul on earth.
But we can lose it.
In the Old Testament, God is portrayed as an awful punishing God that is fearsome and scary and you have to be kidding me if you play around with someone as mighty as Him. But in the New Testament, God seems to be a loving, kind God that tolerates our flaws. But He is the same forever… So, what changed? Nothing.
He is still the scary, fearsome mighty power that can still shake the universe with a mere thought… He is. God is a loving God. But unless we understand that God is someone worthy to be dead scared of, we won’t understand His love for us. Just like spoilt brats. Their parents give them everything, spoil them… these brats never learn of the love their parents have for them. But good parents don’t spoil their children. There is fear, and love…
We don’t deserve salvation. We don’t. Look what we do. We are despicable creatures that are not worthy of ourselves let alone eternal life. And yet, God chose us, and in His grace gives us free salvation. But it is not a ticket to do whatever we want to and expect to be saved. We have no right to take it for granted.
Like I said before, in my previous post, if we love God, we would not do the things that we are not supposed to do. But, we cannot keep a clean slate after being saved. Sin is bound to happen although it is not an excuse. (ITS NOT!!) God’s understanding of sin surpasses ours. For Him, a mere thought that is not of Him is sin… and there is not such thing as big sin or small sin. But God sees our heart, and that’s how he differentiates his children from those who want to have eternal life and that are that. C’mon God is not recruiting people to have eternal life. He is looking for hearts that belong to Him. And that’s how God will separate the goats from the sheep.
We are saved… but we have to work our salvation with fear and trembling. Because in our hands is a gift that we do not deserve, and we can’t afford to lose it. Don’t take it for granted. (But Anna, we can’t work our salvation!!)
Yes, I know. How do we work out our salvation? By obedience and faithful love to God. I think that’s what that matter to God. That we love Him enough to do anything He says. Not keeping our eyes onto eternal life but keeping our eyes on Jesus. (I personally rather suffer with Jesus than swim in merriment with the devil)
In a nutshell… don’t take what you have for granted.
The greatest love that anyone could ever know That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul(i love this part so much. there is so much meaning. Jesus loved me so much he went to the cross and the pain and death itself... to find me, to love me, to bring me home) And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home I'll trust in You
With all I am I'll live to see Your kingdom come And in my heart I pray You'd let Your will be done And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home I'll trust in You
I will live to love You I will live to bring You praise I will live a child in awe of You
You are the voice that calls the universe to be(Another verse i love, the god, the star breather that made the whole universe, and created everything that exists) You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me(and yet he chose to live inside of me, and speak to me and be my friend, my companion.. never leaving me alone, always there for me. never letting me go. Holding me onto Him. speaking to me comforting me) And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home I'll trust in you
You alone are God of all You alone are worthy Lord And with all I am my soul will bless Your name
I'm not going to mention how this topic came to be, but I think I have to have a say in this.
Saved by works, or saved by grace.
I learnt about God and the bible this way.
4 can be the product of anything. 3+1, 10-6, Square root of 16, 2x2, 50-30+8-24, anything.
But 2+2 is always 4. no matter what.
Yea, confusing. I know. Let me explain.
Once I was talking to someone about God. And he asked me… “ so, if I go to church be, be good, and follow the bible, I am saved?” and it made me think… I said no.
The rules in the bible, the things that we should do and shouldn’t… I follow them because I love god. Doing all these things to prove I love God is futile. The love comes first, hence the obedience. I do not love God because I obey his Word, but I love God, hence I obey his word.
That’s that
Today, there was a friction. Two views. One saying that we are saved by our works. One saying that we are saved by grace. (A) says that the things we do sees us through our salvation. A doesn’t really seem to admit the power of the Blood. A says the blood has redeemed us but we have to still work for it. A falls into the ‘obey word hence love God’ category. Then there’s (B). B says we are saved by grace of God. That the blood of His Son has saved us from hell. That we are saved by grace. B says that he loves God hence the obedience follows. B is persecuted. He is cautioned and is told that if he ever says things like that, he will be kicked out.
I told B to stand his ground. Because no matter what everyone says, there is the Bible, and the Word and I stand my ground, and my ground is that Jesus saved my soul by giving his life up. God has saved me by grace, and nothing I do can earn that. I love God, and that’s why I obey His Word. I do not obey His words to show Him that I love Him. I obey them because I love Him. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments” He did not say “You will obey my commandments if you love Me” It sounds the same… but it is not.
*I just read Galatians aloud until my throat hurt, and He revealed to me these verses.
.
But when God, who set me apart from birth[a] and called me by his grace, was pleased(Gal 1:15)ME:God has called me by grace, and not of my works.
know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified."If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!(Gal 2:16,17)
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"(Gal2:21)
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?(Gal3:2-5)
The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them.(Gal 3:12)
But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.(Gal 3:22-26)
16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?(Gal 4:16)ME: i understand now what Jesus meant by persecution. Those who stand for Him will be persecuted. But can it stop us from telling the world the truth?Should we stop... no...
You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.(Gal 5:4-6)
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.(Gal 5:13)
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 1Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.(Gal 6:7-10)
He doesn't speak for me when he uses religion as a wedge to divide;
He doesn't speak for me when he speaks as the final arbiter on the meaning of the Bible;
------------- doesn't speak for me when he uses the beliefs of others as a line of attack;
He doesn't speak for me when he denigrates his neighbor's views when they don't line up with his;
He doesn't speak for me when he seeks to confine the values of my faith to two or three issues alone;
What does speak for me is David's psalm celebrating how good and pleasant it is when we come together in unity;
Micah speaks for me in reminding us that the Lord requires us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him;
The prophet Isaiah speaks for me in his call for all to come and reason together and also to seek justice, encourage the oppressed and to defend the cause of the vulnerable;
The book of Nehemiah speaks for me in its example to work with our neighbors, not against them, to restore what was broken in our communities;
The book of Matthew speaks for me in saying to bless those that curse you and pray for those who persecute you;
The words of the apostle Paul speak for me in saying that words spoken and deeds done without love amount to nothing.
The apostle John speaks for me in reminding us of Jesus' command to love one another. The world will know His disciples by that love.
These words speak for me. But when ----------- attacks -----------, -------------- doesn't speak for me.
Funny how I always go to other people when I don’t feel ok, and how people always disappoint me. But this time, I went to God instead. And He did exactly what I wanted. He soothed me and clamed me, and made me feel at peace
-I’m taking a break you guys. I’m on a journey of finding true worship-
This week is a week of self realization. And also god realization. I've believed in too many lies. And it’s brought me further away from god. And I don’t want to believe in them anymore. The lies I believed in? I need to be loved by other people to feel accepted. If someone went against me, then it’s all over. 2nd? That God loves me the least because I'm so useless. 3rd? Just because somebody who knows Jesus longer than I do told me that I'm luke warm and that im a discernment, I am one.
Truth? It doesn’t matter who loves me and who doesn’t. All that is enough for me is that god loves me. I don’t need to feel accepted by my peers and other people to know that I'm wanted. God loves me like I'm the only one on earth. He really does. Because he chose me to be his child. And how others judge me is not important at all. What matters is that my heart is right with god. And if I am not, then I will do whatever it takes to make it right. I'm not what other think of me. I'm what god made me.
My heart still feels sad… because the world is more wretched than I thought it was. But God has asked me to be his ambassador here on earth and really make a difference. For his glory. And I do not plan to be luke warm for Him. I want to set the world on fire for him. Because I love Him so, and He knows that even though sometimes I get distracted.
I love you Jesus. I really do. I want to have a personal relationship with you. Not a luke warm distant one, but one that I would have with my lover. I want you so badly in my life Lord… I love you
Delirious? Investigate Investigate my life and make me clean Shine upon the darkest place in me To you my life's an open book So turn the page and take a look Upon the life you've made Always, my days, I'll praise
Fly away, where heaven calls my name Fly away, I'll never be the same Investigate, I can't wait Excavate, recreate
Investigate my life and take me through Shine upon the road that leads to you I know you'd heard the words I'd say Before I'd even lived one day You knew the life you'd made Always, my days, I'll praise
Investigate my life and make me clean Shine upon the darkest place in me When I go, when I return you've seen your holy fire burn Upon the life you made Always, I'll praise i love this song from the moment i heard it. sometimes we have so much of dirt in our lives that we know not of, and we need God to reveal them to us. And i see this song as some sort of prayer, asking God to clean us of the dirt and rubbish that we have accumulated. polish us until we shone like pure gold
A relationship with God is something personal. and I've been struggling with this issue ever since- i couldnt not mix scriptures and my daily ramblings in one blog, neither could I separate God from my life. So I finally have the answer. I'll post all my personal posts at
http://ladyvankovic.blogspot.com/
but this blog is still up and running. But I'll be using it as a bible study/encouragement/quiet time notes. Enjoy you guys
Me? Can words describe me? (I'm made from 3 billion descriptions that is written in my one DNA so dont expect me to write them all because i can't)
One thing is sure though, Im fearfully and wonderfully made by my Star Breather
