♥ My heart Your home by Hillsong =)

Celebrate Your SHAPE

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CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?

Celebrate Your SHAPE By Rick Warren — Sep 24, 2015 “Oh, yes, you shaped me first inside, then out …. You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit …. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” (Psalm 139:13-16 MSG) God never wastes an experience. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV). At Saddleback Church, we help people consider five areas of experience that will influence the kind of ministry they are best shaped for: Educational experiences: What were your favorite subjects in school?  Vocational experiences: What jobs have you enjoyed and achieved results while doing? Spiritual experiences: What have been the meaningful or decisive times with God in your life? Ministry experiences: How have you served God in the past? Painful experiences: What are the problems, hurts, and trials from which you’ve learned? Your SHAPE was sovereignly determined by God for his purpose, so you shouldn’t resent it or reject it. “Who are you, my friend, to talk back to God? A clay pot does not ask the man who made it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ After all, the man who makes the pots has the right to use the clay as he wishes” (Romans 9:20-21a TEV). Instead of trying to reshape ourselves to be like someone else, we should celebrate the SHAPE God has given each of us. Understanding your SHAPE builds self-esteem. There’s an epidemic of low self-esteem in our society today. Most people do not like themselves. Studies have shown one reason is that more than 50 percent of all people are in the wrong jobs. I believe that genuine self-esteem — as opposed to pop psychological self-esteem — is built on two biblical truths. It’s not about raising yourself up by your bootstraps or thinking positively or the “I’m OK; you’re not so hot” philosophy. Genuine self-esteem is built on your relationship with Jesus and knowing what he created you for. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick>> Talk It Over What do these Bible passages reveal about your SHAPE? “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth — everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:7 NIV). “The people I have shaped for myself will broadcast my praises” (Isaiah 43:21 NJB). “From where he sits God overlooks all of us on earth — he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do” (Psalm 33:14-15 MSG). Today’s Scripture “They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts...” (Romans 2:15, NLT) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Written On Your Heart In the Old Testament, God’s commands were written on stone tablets and kept in the tabernacle. Now, we have the New Testament, or new covenant. When we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we become His temple. He lives in us, and He engraves His promises and commands right on our hearts! How can you be sure of this? This verse goes on to say that your spirit, your inner man, has a strong knowledge of what is right and wrong; what you should and shouldn’t do. When His law is written on your heart, you are drawn to follow His Word. That’s the Spirit of God on the inside of you, guiding and directing your steps. As you follow His leading, your ability to hear and know Him is strengthened. But if you choose to bypass that prompting on the inside, your heart can become hard which will affect your ability to hear Him in the future. Make the decision today to demonstrate that God’s law is written on your heart by quickly obeying His leading. Remember, His law is written on your heart! Trust that He is leading you in the path of blessing all the days of your life! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for making Your home in me. Help me to clearly follow Your promptings. Let my life be pleasing to you so that others will come to know you as a result! In Jesus’ name. Amen.” ​PS ​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hOSPxxylxk

God Made You, and You Belong to Him

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?

God Made You, and You Belong to Him By Rick Warren — Sep 23, 2015 “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.’” (Luke 1:46-47 NIV) When it comes to planning, many Christians act like atheists. They realize Jesus saved them, but they don’t really trust him. They think they can plan their life any way they want to. But the reality is God created everyone, and he made each person for a unique purpose. He has a specific destiny for everyone. God had a plan for Mary. He chose her, and he created her to become the mother of the Son of God. And what was Mary’s response? She didn’t say, “I’ve got my own plans for my life. I’m too busy. I have to do what’s best for me.” No, she realized God had a purpose for her life, and she was willing to do whatever he wanted. Her response was a song of praise: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”(Luke 1:46b-47 NIV). Mary recognized that God was her Lord and Savior, and she was eager to do his will. She trusted him with her life, even though she knew no one would believe her when she told them what the angel said. Do you trust that God has made you for a specific destiny? The Bible says, “Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends” (Psalm 100:3 NCV). God made you. He created you and designed you, and you belong to him. God’s destiny for your life is better than any plan you’ll ever come up with. So if you’re going to trust somebody with your life, who better to trust than your Maker, the one who created you for a purpose? PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What are the plans you’ve been making for yourself? How do they reflect your trust in God and his will? If you really trusted God for your destiny, what would change about your prayer life? What would change about your relationships with other people? Your perspective on world events? Take a few moments, and write your own song of praise to God that shows him that you want to do his will and fulfill his purpose for your life. Today’s Scripture “As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest...” (Genesis 8:22, NLT) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Keep Sowing In the book of Genesis, in the very beginning, God established a system for increase. Everything in life operates off of seedtime and harvest. There are seeds of success, provision and increase inside of you. As long as you have seed, you have increase in your hand. But a seed will lay dormant until it is placed in the right conditions. You have to plant that seed and water it in order for it to grow. What are the seeds you have in your hand? Seeds can be as simple as the seed of a smile that will produce happiness in your life. It can be a financial seed that will produce provision in your life. Whatever you have, give and it shall be given back to you in greater measure. The Bible says that God’s Word is water, and when you speak the Word of God, you are watering your seeds. Ask the Lord today to show you what seeds you have in your hand. Ask Him to show you where to plant them. Then step out and sow because He will watch over those seeds to produce an abundant harvest in every area of your life! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for seedtime and harvest. Thank You for the system to activate blessing in my life. Show me where to give the seed I have in my hand so that I can reap the harvest You have prepared for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

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Sometimes I ask myself, did I make the right choice?

Then I realized...

was I happy?

am I happy?

 

God Uses Your Problems for Good

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?

God Uses Your Problems for Good By Rick Warren — Sep 22, 2015 “Even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials …. This is no accident — it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 Phillips) Life is not a series of random, freak accidents. Life is not totally unplanned. Life is not without meaning. God knows what’s going on. He’s weaving the tapestry of your life, and it has light and dark threads — happy and sad times — to give richness and texture and color to your life. Nothing can come into the life of a child of God without God’s permission. Everything is Father‑filtered. Don’t misunderstand. I am not saying that everything that happens to you in life is God’s perfect will. That’s just not true. There are a lot of things that are not God’s will. If you go out and sin, that’s not God’s will. If somebody sins against you, that’s not God’s perfect will. But God does have a permissive will. If I go out and I overeat, I pay the consequences. If I go out and wreck my body, I pay the consequences. God does not cause evil and God does not cause suffering. But he does allow them because they have a purpose. God permits them, and then he uses them. God is an expert at bringing good out of bad. He could have kept Paul out of prison in Philippi, but instead he let Paul go to prison, and the jailer became a believer as a result. God could have kept Jesus from the cross, but he let him go. He let his own Son suffer and die. Did he bring any good out of that? I’d say he did! God loves to turn crucifixions into resurrections. The things you wish were most removed from your life are often the very things that God is using to shape you and make you into the believer he wants you to be. He wants to use that problem for good in your life. There’s something more important than your pain. It’s what you’re learning from that pain. God is in control. So what’s the key? What’s our response? Our response is to look past the pain. “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NLT, second edition). PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over In your own words, what would you say to someone who asks why God allows bad things to happen to good people? How do you think God wants you to pray in the middle of your pain? What does it mean that “our spirits are being renewed every day” (2 Corinthians 4:16)? Today’s Scripture “‘...I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” (Haggai 2:23, NIV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Sealed By God We don’t often hear about signet rings anymore; but in Bible times, they were very significant. The signet ring was used to identify the message or messenger and the authority they had. In other words, you knew something was from the king because it was marked by his signet ring. It was representative of power and authority. This verse is saying that you are the mark of authority of Almighty God. You have been chosen and set apart to be identified with Him. When you have someone’s power and authority, you have access to everything they have. It’s like having power of attorney; you have the authority to act on behalf of that individual. As a believer in Jesus, you are marked with His seal. Think of all you have access to today! Think about the authority you have. Everything He has is available to you—healing, provision, strength, peace, joy. You have been given authority to “sign His name” in order to receive His blessings. You are God’s seal, and you are marked to live the abundant life He has in store for you! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for choosing me and calling me Your own. Help me to fully understand the authority You’ve given by Your Son, Jesus. I receive all You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

The Right Attitudes for a Quiet Time

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CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?

The Right Attitudes for a Quiet Time By Rick Warren — Sep 21, 2015 “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV) You may understand that a daily quiet time is necessary for spiritual growth and be motivated to do it, but how do you go about having one? You have to start with the proper attitudes. In God’s eyes, why you do something is far more important than what you do. On one occasion God told Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). It is quite possible to do the right thing but with the wrong attitude. When you come to meet with God in a quiet time, you should have these proper attitudes: Expectancy: Come before God with anticipation and eagerness. Expect to have a good time of fellowship with him and receive a blessing from your time together. That was what David expected: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you” (Psalm 63:1). Reverence: Don’t rush into God’s presence, but prepare your heart by being still before him and letting the quietness clear away the thoughts of the world. Listen to the prophet Habakkuk: “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him” (Habakkuk 2:20; see also Psalm 89:7). Coming into the presence of the Lord is not like going to a football game or some other form of entertainment. Alertness: Get wide-awake first. Remember that you are meeting with the Creator, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Redeemer of men. Be thoroughly rested and alert. The best preparation for a quiet time in the morning begins the night before. Get to bed early so you will be in good shape to meet God in the morning; he deserves your full attention. Willingness to obey: You don’t come to your quiet time to choose what you will do or not do but with the purpose of doing anything and everything that God wants you to do. Jesus said, “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17). So come to meet the Lord having already chosen to do his will, no matter what. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick>> Talk It Over If you were really eager to have a quiet time, what would change about how often and how much you spend time with God? What is the best time and place for you to be reverent and alert before God? How do you find out what God’s will is and what he wants you to do? PS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txzOErCuQlo Today’s Scripture “Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1, NLT) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Sow Success God has a system in place in order to bless you and it works on the principle of sowing and reaping. What you pour out to others, it will come back to you in increased measure. When you give generously, a generous harvest will return to you. When you help others succeed, you will find abundant success on your own path, too. There are people in your life who hold the keys for you to reach your full potential. These are people that God has placed in your life for you to help along. The higher they rise up, the higher you will rise up, too. When you give generously of your time, talent and resources, you are setting yourself up for greater success. What are you doing to invest in the lives of the people around you? Are you helping others get ahead? Step out and sow a seed. Look for ways to help others. As you sow success, you’ll reap success and move forward into the abundant life He has in store for you! A Prayer for Today “Father, I open my heart to everything You have in store for me. Use me to be a blessing in the lives of others. Show me where to invest my time, talent and resources to help others succeed for Your glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

You Need an Outside Power Source

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CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?

You Need an Outside Power Source By Rick Warren — Sep 20, 2015 “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?” (Romans 7:24 MSG) Have you figured out yet that a lot of times you are your own worst enemy? It’s your own reactions, your own fears, and your own inadequacies that cause you to act in foolish ways. I know that’s true for me. I need to be saved from myself because there are things I don’t like about me — things I wish I had done differently, things I’d like to change. But I can’t change them, at least not on my own power. I need an outside power source.  You may be saying, “I can change.” I hate to say this, but you can’t. Every New Year, you may make a list of resolutions, and by the end of January, that list will be in the dumpster. Why? Because you can’t change on your own; you need God’s power. You need a Savior, someone who can make the changes you can’t make yourself.  The truth is if you are honest about it, sometimes you feel like your life is out of control. That’s a pretty common feeling. Welcome to the human race!  The apostle Paul felt that way over 2,000 years ago. He says this in the Bible: “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does” (Romans 7:24-25 MSG). That’s the answer! You may be looking for that one thing that’s going to give you fulfillment and meaning and peace in life. But if you’re not looking to Jesus for salvation, then you’re looking in all the wrong places, and that’s why you’re frustrated. Some of us think that if we could just get married, or get a certain job or a promotion, or attain a certain level of wealth, or have a baby — or if our babies would grow up and graduate! — things would be great. A lot of people are looking for salvation in a self-help book, therapy, a fad, a diet, or a vacation. If you’re doing that, you’re looking in the wrong places.  The answer is not in your circumstances. It’s not in a place or a program or a pill. The answer is a person: Jesus Christ. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life is never going to make sense. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick>> Talk It Over How would your life change if you fully accepted your dependence upon Jesus? What would a “fully accepting” faith look like? What step do you need to take to give control of your life to God? How often do you need to take that step? What does it mean to be made “for God”? Today’s Scripture “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NKJV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Choose Blessings for Your Future Your words have creative power. With your words, you can either bless your future or curse your future. If you want to know what your life is going to be like five years from now, just listen to what you’re saying about yourself today. Too many people go around saying, “I’ll never get well. I’ll never get out of debt.” “It’s flu season. I’ll probably get it.” “This marriage is never going to last.” Then they wonder why they don’t see things turn around. It’s because they’re calling defeat into their future. They’re calling in mediocrity. Don’t let that be you! When you wake up in the morning, no matter how you feel or what things look like, instead of using your words to describe your situation, use your words to change your situation. Make a declaration of faith by saying, “This is going to be a great day. I have God’s favor. He’s directing my steps.” When you do that, you are choosing to bless your future. You are calling in favor, increase and opportunities. You are opening the door for God to move on your behalf so you can live the abundant life He has for you! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for the blessings You have prepared for my future. I submit my ways and my words to You. Help me to speak what You speak and keep me close to You. I give You the glory in all things in Jesus’ name. Amen.” PS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7g5ol4HLcc