“God has created me to do for Him* some definite purpose. He has committed some work to me, which He has not committed to another.”
Category: life purpose
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE: A SUMMARY
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE by Rick Warren
Published by Zondervan 2002
“This is the true joy in life: the being used up for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one…”
– George Bernard Shaw
A SUMMARY
Submitter’s Note:
Craig has just started writing a new book My Purpose Driven Life* and here are a few thoughts in the meantime, so thought I’d share. Enjoy…
As inspired by The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, which I’m presently studying and summarizing (but not too “heavy-heavy Christian/religious”, but more “simply spiritual” from my own perspective aimed at (and especially relevant and hopefully “appealing” to) most of the world’s population who aren’t “religiously minded” and don’t attend church and/or follow Jesus 90%… ???), which I’ll post on my blog in due course.
“Whilst we can (and should) celebrate our uniquenesses, let not our different beliefs set us apart as human beings, but rather let the Spirit of our shared humanity be what defines and unites us as common citizens of our planet.”
– me
from http://www.www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com
*
Here are my notes from this rather interesting book. Enjoy…
What on earth am I here for?
Submitter’s Note: In this summary I have tried to take the most points, without being too “heavy heavy religious”.Whilst I’m not overly religious (way more “spiritually-minded”), to make some sense of Rick Warren’s book you will need some degree of what I term “God consciousness.”
Note: For simplicity I have used the pronoun ‘his’, as per Rick Warren’s book. However, where the pronoun His (or His) is used to denote God, you choose the pronoun you like. I prefer the term the Ultimate Source or Ground of All Being, as God is without gender.
“It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.”
Eph 1:11 (Msg)
“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
– Jeremiah 29:11 (New King James Version)
And/or
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you…To give you a future and a hope.”
*
1 It all starts with God, the Creator of the Universe, so you must begin with God, your Creator. You were made by God and for God.. Life is about letting God use you for his (you choose the pronoun, ‘cos God is without gender) and not using Infinite Source for your own purpose.
Consider your dreams. Clarify your values. Set some goals. Figure out what you do best. Aim high. Be disciplined. Believe you can achieve your goals, even your wildest dreams. Involve others in your plan. Then go for it…never giving up. It’s all about being what God created you to be along the journey.
God is not just the starting point of your life; He is the Source. To discover your purpose in life, you must turn to God’s word, not the world’s wisdom. You must build your life on eternal truths.
The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity. LIfe really is about living for God…and not myself.
YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT
I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.
Isiaih 44:2
“God doesn’t play dice.”
– Albert Einstein
The Bible says, “The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me.” God had a plan in creating you – he didn’t need to create you, yet created you for a reason (specific). Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God . And God is love (in action)
*
3 WHAT DRIVES YOUR LIFE
“The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a no man.”
– Thomas Carlyle
Many people are driven by:
* guilt
* resentment and anger
* fear
* materialism
* the need for approval (significance)
and NB
some people are driven by
* love
and/or
* the need to try to make a difference in the world (me)
“Aim not at (for) success, but significance.”
The greatest tragedy is not death, but living a life without purpose.
The Bible says, “A plain and simple life is a full life.”
* Knowing your purpose focusses your life.
Henry David Thoreau observed that many (most??) people live lives of “quiet desperation.”
“Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
– Phillippians 3:13
* Knowing your purpose motivates (and energizes) your life.
“This is the true joy in life: the being used up for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one…”
– George Bernard Shaw
* What did you do with what I gave you?
Jesus’s parable of the ten talents.
“Our talents are our gift from God, but what we do with our talents are our gift to God.”
* Living with a purpose is the key to peace (inner).
SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S VIEW
“We don’t see things as they are,
We see them as we are.”
-_ Anais Nin
We are often tested along the challenge of life. “Life is a game of cards; You have to play the hand you are dealt.”
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you will be able to know the will of God.”
Romans 12:2 (New King James Version)
Life on earth is a Trust.
The Bible says, “Those who are trusted with something valuable must show they are worthy of that trust.”
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”
Life is a test and a trust.
“Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones.”
– Luke 16:10
LIFE IS A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT
“I am here on earth for just a little while.”
Psalm 119:19
You’re just passing through.
“We are Christ’s ambassadors”.
Compared with other centuries, life has never been easier for much of the Western world.
“The things we see here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”
Earth is not our final home! At death you won’t leave home – you’ll go home!
*
7 THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING
“The Lord has made everything for his own purposes.”
– Proverbs 16:4
“The heavens declare the glory of God.”
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
HOW CAN I BRING GLORY TO GOD?
Jesus told the Father, “I brought glory to You here on earth by doing everything you told me to do.”
“Many small steps of obedience take us a long way along the journey.”
Jesus honoured God by fulfilling his purpose on earth. Always remember, God made you to be YOU.
Paul said: “Accept each other just as Christ accepted you; then God will be glorified.”
It is your responsibility to learn how to love as God does, because God is love.
Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
We bring God glory by becoming more like Christ. Spiritual maturity is becoming more like Jesus in the way we think, feel and act.
Are you called to help others?
WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?
WHAT WILL YOU LIVE FOR?
God will give you what you need, if you will just make the choice to live for the Ground of All Being
Pray for yourself to be part of God’s plan.for the universe.
“Lord, fit my little dream into your dream.”
RECEIVE AND BELIEVE
PLANNED FOR GOD”S PLEASURE
You were planned for God’s pleasure??? I’m not so sure about that.
But then God certainly has a sense of humour with (“following”) my “crazy little” life! (my other friend’s say God doesn’t care other than having a good laugh).
*
9 WHAT MAKES GOD SMILE?
The smile of God is the goal of your life???
According to Rick Warren, the Bible says, “Figure what will please Christ, and then do it.”
Sounds a bit “heavy that.” I think we need to be doing what we love and that’s usually what we do best. Jesus accepts us just as we are, yet invites us to “know Him”; then be inspired by His Spirit to reach our fullest potentials.
He said: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
To pg 70
“Together, one mind, one life at a time, let’s see how many people we can impact, empower, uplift and encourage to reach their fullest potentials.”
The Purpose Driven Life (by Rick Warren)
What is Your Purpose in Life?
A synopsis of The Purpose Driven Life
by Rick Warren
What on earth am I here for?
What is Your Purpose in Life?
A synopsis of The Purpose Driven Life
by Rick Warren
shared by craig
PS: I’m studying this book with a view to writing my own summary of The Purpose Driven Life (but not too “heavy-heavy Christian/religious”, but more “simply spiritual” from my own perspective aimed at (and especially relevant and “appealing” to) most of the world’s population who don’t attend church and/or follow Jesus), which I’ll post on my blog in due course
c
The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren
The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren
A Book Summary
WHO IS "THE REAL, THE TRUE, THE LIVING" JESUS? 