April 12 2015 Determining My Life's Work

Determining My Life's Work

“If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.” — James 1:5

Four Questions To Determine My Life’s Work

WHAT does God want?

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. . . Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.’” — James 4:13-15

WHAT am I good at?

“I (God) have given him the skill, ability, and knowledge to do all kinds of work.”— Exodus 31:3

“For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” — Ephesians 2:10

WHAT is in front of me?

“Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with all your might.” — Ecclesiastes 9:10

“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.” — Colossians. 3:23

“His master replied, ‘Good job! You're a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's happiness.’” — Matthew 25:23

WHAT is my life’s ministry?

Memory Verse: ““Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Matthew 22:37-39

“You are the salt of the earth. . .You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” — Matthew 5:13-14

“It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.” — 2 Corinthians 3:5

February 22 2015 Thirty Days To A No Regrets Life

Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life

Memory Verse: Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.”
        
FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING FROM THE LIFE OF JESUS

1.  LIVE PASSIONATELY

John 10:10b (Msg)“… I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

Luke 7:31,32 (NIV)"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'”                

2.  LOVE COMPLETELY

John 13:1 (NIV)“Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love.”         

Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)“Jesus replied: '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.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'”             

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)  “Love never fails….”         

3.  LEARN HUMBLY

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!”           

4. LEAVE BOLDLY

Luke 9:51 (NIV)“As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”         

Matthew 25:23 (NIV)"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'”

January 25 2015 Getting Stuck In My Career - Parts 1 and 2

GETTING UNSTUCK IN MY CAREER

So I decided there is nothing better than to... find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 2:24    

Definition of UnStuck: Moving forward in my life because I am willing to give God complete control.

THE STORY OF MARK
(Acts 13:4-5; 13-14; 15:36-40)

So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.  They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.  There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God.  John Mark went with them as their assistant. Acts 13:4-5

Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.  But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. Acts 13:13-14

THE STORY OF MARK (contd)
(Acts 13:4-5; 13-14; 15:36-40)

After some time Paul said to Barnabas, >Let's go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing. Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.  But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted
them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.  Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated.  Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.  Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord's gracious care.  Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. Acts 15:36-40
    
4 CHOICES TO GETTING UNSTUCK IN MY CAREER:

1)  CHOOSE TO MAKE GOD MY BOSS.

In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. Colossians 3:23

• Love God & Others (see Matthew 22:37-39)
• serve my co-workers. (see Matthew 23:11-12)
• find a Godly mentor.  

(Paul) Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

2)  CHOOSE TO SEPARATE who I am FROM what I do.

For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

• Daily Quiet Time
• A Weekly Sabbath

(Jesus) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:36

3) CHOOSE TO BE FAITHFUL IN THE SMALL THINGS

His master replied, >Good job!  You=re a good and faithful servant!  You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount.  I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master=s happiness. Matthew 25:23

Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with all your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10

4) CHOOSE TO PERSEVERE EVEN WHEN I FEEL STUCK

We were under great pressure; far beyond our ability to endure As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened.  Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally B not a bad idea since He=s the God who raises the dead! 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

Timothy, please come as soon as you can.  Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica.  Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.  Only Luke is with me.  Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. 2 Timothy 4:9-11 (see also Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24)
                     
Memory Verse: It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5

August 10 2014 My Job

My Job

“Then Jesus said, ‘come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.’” – Matthew 11:28-29

“So I decided there is nothing better than to… find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24

FIVE GODLY ACTIONS TO DEFEAT THE FIVE JOB STRESSERS

JOB STRESSER #1: “I don’t know what to do with my life.”

• ASK God what He wants me to do.

“If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.” – James 1:5

JOB STRESSER #2: “I feel like a failure when I don’t succeed at my job.”

• SEPARATE my identity from my job

“So I turned in despair from hard work. It was not the answer to my search for satisfaction in this life.” – Ecclesiastes 2:20

“For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

JOB STRESSER #3: “I hate my job.”

• DO what I love AND LOVE what I do.

“Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with all your might.” – Ecclesiastes 9:10

“His master replied, ‘Good job! You're a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's happiness.’” – Matthew 25:23

JOB STRESSER #4: “I work too much and I’m burnt out.”

• KEEP the Sabbath by taking one day a week off.

“You have six days in which to do your work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to Me.” – Exodus 20:9-10

JOB STRESSER #5: “I don’t feel like my job matters.”

• LOOK for opportunities to serve God at work.

“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.” – Colossians 3:23

Memory Verse: “It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.” – 2 Corinthians 3:5