Balancing Your Life The best way to internalize the principles of purpose-driven living is to discuss them with others in a small group setting. The Bible says As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other (Proverbs 27:17) NCV) We learn best in a community. Talk through the implications and the applications of each chapter. Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life, Balancing Your Life Since I have gotten into the habit of writing my thoughts down in a journal I have found that I enjoy this. It is good to be able to put my thoughts on paper, (or in this case screen). In fact I have found myself looking forward to it each day. I have found Celebrate Recovery to be helpful in my recovery a few years ago. I tried a couple different times to keep a journal then, always quitting after a few days. I realize I was using it then as more of a Daily Diary type of thing. A lot of times I felt forced to write something so I just filled in words. This is not the purpose of the Journal as Rick Warren lays it out in The Purpose Driven Life. He stresses NOT to use it this way. I dont strive to write something every day in my Journaling now. I have done it here, but that was to try to get use to accepting instruction. I have a have a problem with fullfilling the old Frank Sinatra song, I Did It My Way. After many failures I have realized that My Way is not always the best way. I have tried to open myself up to suggestions from other Christians. I believe this is how God intended it to be. The Book of Proverbs stresses the importance of accepting instruction over and over (Sorry, Frank). I have strived to write the important things that God has laid on my heart. I will continue to do this, but probably not on a daily basis. Whatever I write, I will try to keep it encouraging and in line with Gods Word. If anyone feels I am out of harmony with what God has written I want you to feel free to let me know. You will have more success with me though, if you back it up with Scripture. God is has taught me to listen and compare that to all that is said. I try to evaluate or examine myself in a spiritual way as often as I can. Paul told the Corinthians to do this. I often ask myself Am I reacting to any given situation as Christ would? I dont join many goups. There are so many! I wouldnt be surprised if someone has begun a Thumb-Twiddling Group. Just recently I did join a group called The churches of Christ salute you. The discussions are interesting, although I feel a need to confront a person when he is out of line with Gods Word. I expect the same in return. Many times I fall short in this examination of myself. All I can do is repent and ask God for the strength and wisdom to do better the next time certain trials and temtations come my way. Most of these situations come through other people. It seems that the enemy is never in short supply of lackeys who are willing to allow Satan to use their mouths to stir up trouble and cause division through gossip and backtalking. He is clever at using others to carry out his evil plans. Im sure most of the time they dont even realize they are being used as puppets. They think their words and plans arise from their own ingenuity. They have been deceived by the Adversary. I can say this freely because he has used me. I am not ignorant of his devices as Paul said. While in CPI a man began spreading malicious gossip about me. I had never met that person before in my life. I had no idea why he would say the things he was saying about me, until I thought about what I have just said. He was just being used. I doubt that he even knew what was happening. He was thrown out of the program a day before he was supposed to complete for some obscure reason I dont even know. It was so minor, and I did not agree with the logic of the Staff. He went back to prison. Did I rejoice, no. I am warned in Proverbs not to do this. My flesh wanted to, but I obeyed God and prayed for him. I realized however that Gods Law of Reaping and Harvest were fulfilled, as I have seen so many times, both in my life and the lives of others. Galatians 6:7 says Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows he shall reap. Whether to the flesh or to the Spirit, it does not matter. We cannot sow to the flesh and pray for a crop failure (I know that from experience, also). One meets all kinds of people in the places I have been, but I believe this is the first time I have ever met a person who openly allowed lies to come from his mouth in front of everyone, knowing full well that his words had not a shadow of truth to them. I have forgiven him, and I pray that he realizes someday that he was being used as a pawn of Satan, and tricked into doing one of the things that is listed as being on Gods Hate list in Proverbs, Chapter 6. I want to pass on what I have learned in the Purpose Driven Life, but only as it harmonizes in what is written in the Book I have decided to try to live by - The Bible. What a wonderful place this earth would be if everyone realized that God created them for a purpose, and they made a sincere effort to discover what this purpose is, and reach out to those less unfortunate. I am trying to do this and have discovered a new joy in my life. God Bless! Balance Is The KeyBalance Is The Key Close The AccountClose The Account
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:00:27 +0000
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