"The first thing that Ash Wednesday does is it connects us to the life of Jesus. Ash Wednesday begins the church season of Lent and during this season of Lent we journey with Jesus to the cross. It is not a pleasant journey and it is not supposed to be...The challenge here is if we do not understand what Jesus went through to get to Easter morning can we fully appreciate his sacrifice? Ash Wednesday also reminds us that there is something more..."
Let's dive into this 40 day renewal with a positive mindset, big why, and vision on why we are doing this in the first place. The deeper you dive in, stay connected, and sacrifice throughout these next 40 days, the greater your reward will be.
We all know there are things we need to change, so what is holding you back? What roadblocks prevent you from reaching your God-given purpose? Do you even know what your purpose is?
A Journey with PurposeHave you ever wondered what your purpose is?
Why was I put on this earth?
Am I fulfilling my purpose?
For the next 40 days we will examine these questions by reading through the book, The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. Each day we will ask you the questions to ponder from the end of the daily chapter. We encourage you to read the chapter on your own and meditate on the scripture and questions at the end. We recommend you pick up a copy of the book and read through it for the next 40 days. The public libraries will have copies, and perhaps even our CLC library has a copy or two to lend out. Let's get started!
(the following is an excerpt from the book, The Purpose Driven Life)
This is more than a book; it is a guide to a 40-day spiritual journey that will enable you to discover the answer to life's most important question: What on earth am I here for? Today the average life span is 25,550 days. Don't you think that it would be a wise use of time to set aside 40 of those days to figure out what God wants you to do with the rest of them?
In the Bible, whenever God wanted to prepare someone for his purposes, he took 40 days:
- Noah's life was transformed by 40 days of rain
- Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai
- The spies were transformed by 40 days in the Promised Land
- David was transformed by Goliath's 40-day challenge
- Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength from a single meal
- The entire city of Nineveh was transformed when God gave the people 40 days to change.
- Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness
- The disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection
CHAPTER 1 - IT ALL STARTS WITH GOD
It's not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, peace of mind, or happiness. You were born by His purpose for His purpose. Too many times we ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future?
You cannot arrive at your life's purpose by starting with a focus on yourself. You were made by God and for God. How do you find the purpose God has called for you? By revelation. The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator. The Bible is our Owner's Manual, everything we need can be found in it. To discover your purpose you must turn to God's Word, not the world's wisdom.
Ephesians 1:11 This verse gives us three insights into your purpose:
1. You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him.
3. The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity.
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DAY 1 - FINDING MY PURPOSE
Point to Ponder: It's not about me.
Verse to Remember: "Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." Colossians 1:16b
Question to consider: In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?
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