Day 39: "Balancing Your Life"

Today we move on to day 39 in the book: The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren. Today we discuss ways to KEEP balance in our lives.

If you have been reading the chapters you'll have a VERY clear picture that we have a pretty clear cut mission. How we get there & how we do it will vary GREATLY for each person, because we are SO unIQue, but our ultimate goals/purpose/mission are the same: "God wants us to introduce people to Christ, bring them into his fellowship, help them grow to maturity and discover their place of service, and then send them out to reach others, too." As you've probably learned by reading the last 39 chapters....it won't be DONE in 42 days (once you complete this book). What I have found as I've experienced this book & what it teaches is that you really have to work on yourself in some areas, before you can REALLY help.....BUT...once you start doing the work...God will PRESENT people into your life. They will come & almost ASK for you to minister to them. Then...you'll notice yourself LOOKING for ways to minister to people....& before you know it...you'll be ministering to AT LEAST one person a day. Keep in mind....this is my SECOND time around reading this book & my EXPERIENCE the second time around is so much RICHER, but...I've done some of the work that the book HELPED me realize needed to be done.

This chapter talks A LOT, A LOT about SHARING your spiritual journey & the lessons you've learned & writing them down. I am BLESSED in this area because I LOVE to journal & now I LOVE to blog. It has taken me THREE years for me to get to a point where I can be as open & honest as I am in these blogs. When I first started my BUCK UP BABY! blog, I was SO concerned about what people were going to think about me. I can honestly say that one of the things I've learned about myself is that yes....like everyone else...I want people to LIKE me....but somewhere in my thought process (I'm not sure what gets me to that point) I just ABANDON the concern & worry about it...& then usually worry about it later. I can tell you...that when I felt CALLED to do this....I was having a moment about sharing my journal entries. That's probably why it took me so long to start after reading the book the first time. I'm writing about this because I take for granted the fact that I LIKE to write stuff down. Not everyone does & not everyone even wants to. Here is what I can tell you from EXPERIENCE. The lessons I have learned & all that I am currently going through are REINFORCED by me putting it down on paper or typing it out. I mean I can SEE my growth...even from when I just started these posts. I have an advertising background & BELIEVE that people have to see & hear things a certain number of times to REALLY get the message, & I'm pretty sure God uses that same principal with us.

I have a friend that used to journal...probably like I do....just had books and books of journals. She told me that much of what she writes was the NEGATIVE stuff that she really doesn't EVER want anyone to find, so she burned most of them. This book says: "Don't just write down the pleasant things. As David did, record your doubts, fears, and struggles with God." For me....its therapeutic to get it out of me & onto paper. MOST times it shows me a whole different perspective on things, that I couldn't SEE when I was so upset about it. It's one of those things though....you HAVE to break FREE of caring about others' perception of you. Once you do that (or begin to do that) you won't really care who reads them. Here's another thing I learned....just recently. I was VERY similar to my friend in that...I mostly wrote down the BAD stuff. I've been asking God to infuse MORE JOY into my life....I could remember how I once was & started noticing how SO much of it has drained out of me & I started writing "JOY Journal" entries. Ultimately...you give 3 pieces of gratitude: J- A reason you are thankful for JESUS. O- OTHERS...you name a specific person you are thankful for & you state WHY. Y- YOURSELF...what about yourself are you thankful for? Slowly, but surely that JOY is comin' right back to me.

Here's what I'm sorta gettin' at... Right now I have anywhere between 18-40 REGULAR readers of these blog postings (It varies on my consistency) & although that may not seem like a lot...its that many MORE people reading MY experiences to HELP them DEVELOP  A RELATIONSHIP with The Holy Trinity....& I can ALWAYS go back to it & read it. People who just get the book can refer to these posts to help them on their journey....FOREVER. It doesn't hurt :). I'm not saying you have to share it with the world, but write it down, so you feel more comfortable SHARING it with others...through conversation or a short email.

Here's some take-aways from this chapter I'll SHARE with you:

"But you can keep your life balanced and on track by joining a small group for accountability, by regularly evaluating your spiritual health, by recording your progress in a personal journal, and by passing on what you learn to others."

"The Bible says, 'As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.'"

"I strongly urge you to gather a small group of friends and form a Purpose Driven Life Reading Group to review these chapters on a weekly basis." - I'M DOWN FOR THIS IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.

"The Bible is intended to be studied by paragraphs, chapters, and even entire books."

"The best way to balance the five purposes in your life is to evaluate yourself periodically."

"The Bible says, 'Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted."

"Problems force you to focus on God, draw you closer to others in fellowship, build Christlike character, provide you with a ministry, and give you a testimony."

"You owe it to future generations to preserve the testimony of how God helped you fulfill his purposes on earth. It is a witness that will continue to speak long after you're in heaven."

"Proverbs tells us, 'The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.'"

"In this book I have passed on to you what others taught me about the purpose of life; now it's your duty to pass that on to others."

"The more you know, the more God expects you to use that knowledge to help others."

"Knowledge increases responsibility."

The Daily Stuff:

"Point to Ponder: Blessed are the balanced."

Daily Bible Verse: "Life life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do." Ephesians 5:15 (PH)

Daily Question: "Which of the four activities will I begin in order to stay on track and balance God's five purposes for my life?"

From My Journal: 1) Give myself a spiritual checkup and email the author for a guideline to check myself. 2) Start thinking about the group I'd like to organize. It seems like I can't help, but pass it on to others and I do journal...about EVERYTHING.

I have not emailed the author yet, but I have started the organization of several groups...not necessarily a SPECIFIC group of study partners for this book. These blog posts started out with people commenting & sharing, but now people are MAINLY just reading it, which is fine too. It's HARD to talk about some of these topics.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! Record that journey! Put it to paper! God Bless!!

Day 32: "Using What God Gave You"

We continue on to Day 32 of the book: The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren. This chapter talks all about our SHAPE & how to understand it & USE it.

Here is the first thing that jumped right off the page at me: "It was only after I began accepting opportunities to speak that I saw the result, received confirmation from others, and realized, 'God has gifted me to do this!'" Pastor Warren was talking about his ability to teach. We've talked about each of us having LOTS of gifts. We've also talked about how sometimes we didn't know we had them. I can tell you...after some of my life experiences...that I wonder what I've still got bottled up inside me.

I took a job in sales...didn't even know there was such a thing like it, until I applied for it. Really...had NO CLUE on how to sell what I'd be selling. They taught me how. I listened & placed in our annual sales competition EVERY year, but not only that...I realized (& so did my bosses) that I had a knack for connecting will people...all kinds of people...& not just to make friends, but to build campaigns & work with people in a business setting. That's my first example of a spiritual gift I discovered.

Here's another...had the IDEA come to me about being an auctioneer. I NEVER called an auction before. Never really had any interest to try. I called my Dad, who called my Uncle who TOLD me I was going to go with him to a Church Feast in Plum, Texas & help him....in TWO weeks. I didn't have a chant. I hadn't practiced. Heck...I was still working through the thoughts of if I REALLY wanted to do it & what some people might think about it. I hadn't even told my husband. I could have NOT gone. Uncle Mele still would have loved me :)....BUT...I WENT. For two weeks, I watched You Tube videos, chose my filler words, practiced with my family, counted fence posts as I went down the road & SCARED OUT OF MY MIND.....WENT. Uncle Mele told me to spot first, so I could see where the main bidders were. I did. Then I got up there & sold. Not only did people compliment me, but asked me where I learned how to do it...when I told them You Tube videos & practice they about fell over. Then I did another & people URGED me on with MORE compliments & not only compliments, BUT advice to pursue it. I went to another & thought...okay these people don't HAVE to be nice to me & decided to get my license & here I am PURSUING it. That is example 2.

I was working a full-time job when I started this whole auctioneer journey. I mean I was busy, but I had just unlocked a door to a whole world full of new thoughts & emotions that I had NEVER had. I had a friend that had a Blog called: Pistols & Cupcakes & she wrote a blog about us winning a Halloween Contest with our Ninja Turtle Costumes. HONESTLY...before that I had NEVER read a blog. I didn't really understand the point of them...until I read hers. I can tell you...It was the PERFECT place for me to UNLOAD all of my thoughts about my journey...ALL of them....so I started the blog: Buck Up Baby! & started SHARING my journey. Initially I used it to UNLOAD thoughts...then I started giving props to the organizations & bidders that were at the auctions I did, now I use it to do those things, but also as a marketing tool OR a way to clarify certain things about the events that we are a part of. Anyways....once I started giving props to the events, individuals, & organizations...I started SHARING it on Facebook, on my page & the page of anyone involved. The truth of the matter is though...that I thought a FEW people might read them, but I didn't expect to get the POSITIVE reaction I got....really & I sure didn't expect to get compliments on the WAY I wrote them. I mean I just type it how I think it...& that is usually not grammatically correct...or politically correct. Here I present...Example #3.

I can also tell you that another SPIRITUAL GIFT that God has GIVEN to me is COURAGE & the ABILITY to (sometimes blindly) look past the drawbacks, judgements, perceived thoughts & march onward. It has to be God-given, b/c sometimes I think I'm flat cRaZY for trying to tackle some of the things I do, but I've already gotten myself half-way into it, so there's NO TURNING BACK.

Here's another important...lesson, from this chapter: "Part of accepting your shape is recognizing your limitations. Nobody is good at everything, and no one is called to be everything." WOW...what a lesson I have learned, & I wish I would have learned it sooner. I still strugGLE with it, but I have LEARNED that when I start feeling overwhelmed, stressed, cRAzY, bumfuzzled, twisted up, anxious, out-of-control...there is SOMEONE around me that can HELP me. We are SUPPOSED to work together. Just because you know you are ABLE doesn't mean YOU have to do it. Someone else is able too....& may just have the ability to do a better job at it.

I'm in the middle of a project now where I KNOW...to give the GLORY to GOD...I NEED people to HELP me. I need people to BRING their talents & their SHAPE to the table. This is another one of those things that wouldn't even be a thing....if I wouldn't have decided (with friends urging me) to "CREATE WITH ABANDON" as my journal cover says. That means (my meaning): BELIEVE IT. ENVISION IT. ACT ON IT. Then figure out how to MAKE IT what you ENVISION once you got the ball rolling.

Here is the last thing I'll share from this chapter before I get to the daily info. "Satan will try to steal the joy of service from you in a couple of ways: by tempting you to compare your ministry with others, and by tempting you to conform your ministry to the expectations of others." BELIEVE THIS: Just like God uses us to HELP each other...Satan uses us to HURT each other...all day, everyday, & as often as possible. No one is off limits. Also KNOW...that when you are doing God's work...Satan will ATTACK you every. chance. he. gets. I truly believe that GOD is strengthening my MIND right now to handle his attacks. Pastor Warren shares this in the book: "You will find that people who do not understand your shape for ministry will criticize you and try to get you to conform to what they think you should be doing. Ignore them. Paul often had to deal with critics who misunderstood and maligned his service. His response was always the same: Avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations, and seek only God's commendation. One of the reasons Paul was used so greatly by God was that he refused to be distracted by criticism or by comparing his ministry with others or by being drawn into fruitless debates about his ministry."

"Point to Ponder: God deserves my best."

Daily Bible Verse: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

Daily Question: "How can I make the best use of what God has given me?"

From my journal the first time of reading: The truth is - it seems like it is slowly being revealed to me...in pieces. I know auctions and sharing my journey is part of it...and maybe that's it, but I believe there will be more, once I handle this part.

Believe me when I say...there's MORE. There will always be MORE...& God won't wait until you "handle" one part... It's all on His watch.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus!! This chapter talks about a "Life Review Retreat." I'm down for that if anyone knows anything about one. Also...this chapter ENCOURAGES us to talk to our people about our SHAPE...to see what others see in us. Do that...I know it's not easy, but probably worth it.

Heather Schoenst Kaspar
TXL 17037

Day 17: "A Place To Belong"

Welcome readers! For new readers, we are taking a chapter by chapter journey through the book: The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren.

 This chapter goes into a deep discussion about the importance of CHURCH. I had a little moment with this chapter. I AGREE...being a member of a church & regularly attending ADDS to your spiritual life. It has added to mine TREMENDOUSLY. I have said that the Catholic Church I attend REALLY helped me to KNOW Jesus Christ. BUT...I go back to when I wasn't regularly attending church in my youth & I KNOW that God was DEVELOPING my faith then too. I didn't feel "disconnected" like the book talks about. I felt CONNECTED in a divine way. I can also say that I liked the Lutheran Church that we were members of that I attended (regularly in young youth & not very often in my pre-teen/teenage years). There were things I learned about myself. I remember sitting in confirmation class & we were talking about God's creation & Cain & Able finding wives & I asked "If Adam & Eve were the only humans on earth & their only sons were Cain & Able...well....How did they find wives?" The Bible doesn't talk about him going on to create others, which he did OBVIOUSLY, but I was introduced & MOVED by the mystery of the Bible.

I don't know. I guess what I'm saying is I did a lot of PRIVATE spiritual development in those years that I think were SO important to me. So much so, that when I did start regularly attending another church & eventually becoming a member, it meant so much more for me. I wasn't just blindly going because my parents told me to go. I WANTED to go.

I agree that it is IMPORTANT, but I NEVER felt like what the book says the Bible talks about: "Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we?" Never felt...dead or useless... Anyways...I digress a bit, but just wanted to say that. I'm going to go into the different sections of the book.

"Your Local Fellowship"

This section again says: "The Bible says a Christian without a church home is like an organ without a body, a sheep without a flock, or a child without a family. It is an unnatural state." I yet struggle with this...BECAUSE...everyone's experience is different & I AGREE we would ALL hugely benefit from the RIGHT church for us & I NEED the church that I regularly attend & appreciate it, BUT...you can be going every Sunday...because that is what we are supposed to do & you can be listening & applying some of the things you learn to your life....You can be an ACTIVE member...an usher, church council member, Eucharistic minister...BUT if you pass judgement or FAIL to help a current member, new member or a non-believer or an on-the-fence church member....how does that make you any better than a church member that is attending, but not actively participating in day-to-day church activities and events, BUT in private helps another member that is struggling. I don't know...It's gonna take me a minute to wrap my head around it. If everyone gives God the glory for whatever their doing than it all would be coming from the right place, but if people are doing things to bring themselves the glory...I just don't know. People are just so complex & we all have a plethora of sin & emotion whirling around us & a plethora of talents & needs that are not cookie cutter, and a lot of churches leave an impression that you have to fit that mold, if you want to fit in & I just can't get with that.

I think that we are all blessed with unique talents & we can all bring something unique to ANY church...even the most traditional. I was a Lutheran & the Catholic church really led me to Jesus. You may be a non-believer that feels left out & judged in a Catholic church, but feels TOTALLY accepted & RIGHT at the United Methodist church. I guess what I'm sayin' is WHATEVER GETS YOU TO JESUS can't be wrong. That is one of our main goals: To get to know Jesus Christ. Another thing....some of us are outgoing & love to be around people. Some of us are more structured and EXCEL at leading a meeting. Some of us are afraid to get up in front of large groups of people & read a reading OR collect the offering. All I'm sayin' is we ALL have a UNiquE way we can add to our church. AGAIN...I AGREE that it is important to be a member of a congregation for MORE than what makes you seem like an "active member." There isn't a right or a wrong gift you can add. A lot of times people don't join a church because they feel intimidated, or don't feel comfortable doing/acting/saying certain things. You have to feel accepted & a church will HELP you develop whatever relationship with The Holy Trinity you are working on.

"Why You Need a Church Family"

I love this book, but I'm not buyin' in to this first line: "I can't claim to be following Christ if I'm not committed to any specific group of disciples." I don't know man... I mean I WAS following Jesus Christ when I was not regularly going. I was committed to him. I prayed to him daily (or almost daily). I reflected back on things I was taught. I mean...I guess if you are just walkin' around sinnin' all the time & not thinkin' about it AT ALL that's one thing... If you didn't take some time to pray & talk to God/Jesus maybe not. BUT I was following Jesus Christ.  Again...not saying a church family is unnecessary, just sayin' that we all go about things a little differently & our aim should always be to get to know God, Jesus, & The Holy Spirit. This section of the book also says: "A church family moves you out of self-centered isolation." I can get with that. You start becoming a part of other peoples lives & you learn lessons from the Bible that encourage you to do just that. You are held more responsible.

Aaaand...as the chapter rolls on...it all starts comin' together for me....

"The Body of Christ needs you." Agreed! I believe that we are supposed to work in numbers. I believe what this chapter says when it says: "God has a unique role for you to play in his family. This is called your 'ministry,' and God has gifted you for this assignment: 'A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.'" Yes Sir -E Bob! Now we're talkin'! Now I KNOW I need to develop & initiate MY ROLE within our church. Here is another important line from this chapter: "Your local fellowship is the place God designed for you to discover, develop, and use your gifts. you may also have a wider ministry, but that is in addition to your service in a local body. Jesus has not promised to build your ministry; he has promised to build his church." His church...which is now HIS body here on earth. Also...what I take away from this is that when we use our spiritual gifts, that God gives us, we are strengthening the church & enabling the body as a WHOLE  to pull people in by the numbers. We all identify with each other differently & the more people using their gifts, the more it will resonate with people. Last thing I took away from the last line I quoted: When we we start developing our ministry...we start DEVELOPING our relationship with GOD. There is a BIG difference in having a relationship & developing one. We all have one, because we are his creation.

"A church family will help keep you from backsliding."

 Folks...I can tell you Jesus is workin' with me right now. Over the last several months I have talked to people about things I KNOW I wouldn't have talked to them about a few months ago. I have talked to them when I didn't want to. I have talked to them when I know they didn't want me to. I have talked about things that I would have maybe been ashamed of or feared judgement. I have encouraged, and believed, and hurt for others. I have BLESSED things (conversations/travels/souls of the deceased/friendships) by prayer in a way I NEVER did before. These are the two lines that helped serve as a catalyst (I think): "'Mind your own business' is not a Christian phrase. We are called and commanded to be involved in each other's lives." Do you wanna know how many times I have "Minded my own business," just so I didn't ruffle any feathers? Too damn many....and I know it. I also know that for every time I "minded my own business" I have left a situation that is NO BETTER today than it was days, or months, or years ago. I'm not sayin' you go out lookin' for things, BUT when something DEEPLY affects you or someone you love & has the potential to HURT, RUIN, or DIVIDE you better get nosy!! Who do you think wants to HURT, RUIN, or DIVIDE??? God or the devil?

"Point to Ponder: I am called to belong, not just believe."

Daily Bible Verse: "In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:5 (NIV)

Daily Question: "Does any involvement in my local church demonstrate that I love and am committed to God's family."

From my journal: No. I need to speak with Father about a good role for me. My thought is a different blog where there can be several different contributors & can be shared with anyone that leaves an email address with the church office. Let's say the contributors could be: a younger person that has converted to Catholicism (myself), an older person that converted, someone that grew up in the Catholic church (younger & older) & maybe a Priest or Bishop. That way we can include several different viewpoints from members of the church. We could talk about a plethora of different topics: what certain things in the Catholic church mean, the importance of Saints & Mother Mary, the different ways we each value confession, and a description of the importance of our Holy Days.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! Go find you a church that feels like home! God Bless!  

P.S. I just watched an Oprah interview last night with Mike Fisher & Carrie Underwood. Soon after they started dating they started reading this book together....& he's re-reading it (per the interview). Kinda cool.