God is DRIVEN Toward US: Day 3; The Purpose Driven Life

Yeah, I was driven tonight!  The five things we're not supposed to be driven by...I think I had them all.
Here's a snap shot, my latest FB post:

I didn't say a word. But I silently, rapidly flew around the house to get the kids ready for bed...Then I stayed in a bad mood until I read a bit on FB (that picks me up)...Now I'm noticing that despite being exhausted, my husband has been reading to our children for quite a while. And I remember when he didn't used to do that. And how glad I am that I didn't yell or give up before this moment.


Rick Warren (RW) had so many great things to say about negatives and positives that are driving forces in our lives.  It made me think that if I could just balance or get more "goods" on the scale than "bads", that all would be well.  Then my husband, who  is my favorite theologian, said something like this:


"God is driven for us.  He is weaving together all these things and he's saying, "get in the front row and let me teach you!"


I need to be taught.  I need a teacher who will get in my face and say, "NOW, DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION??  GOOD!"

And then go on to say,  "I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU,  I LOVE YOU!  You cannot outrun my love.  You can have your way about it, but I will still be here to love you!" 


I know that's how God loves us.  Lord forgive me for all the stuff, all the bad moods and false loves that I let get in between responding to your love and loving your creation.


Rest in his love for you.  God is Driven for you!

It's Not All About Me! Day 1 of 40: Purpose Driven Life

Day 1 of  40

Let's sign together!

Diligently note-taking!

I love little people.  Especially my sons.  I can see why some mothers get totally wrapped up in the lives of their children, to the detriment of every one's well being!  Loving them is a 24/7 kind of thing.  But the goal of parenthood is to launch the children, so to speak.  But launch them into, or for, what?  

Our family reads a lot of cool stories together.  Children's Literature is amazing!  In reading The Little Prince, I was made painfully aware of how adults undermine kids with the simplest of comments.

Day 1 of Purpose Driven Life is a wonderful orientation to a new story...  One unfamiliar in our culture...  It's the story of an Almighty, All-Knowing Being who knows us all and creates us for his purpose.  Day 1 tells us: 

"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,...everything got started in him and finds it's purpose in him."  Colossians 1:16 (The Message)

and

"It is God who directs the lives of his creatures, every one's life is in his power." Job 12:10 TEV

How incredibly freeing!  On page 20, author Rick Warren goes onto say that their are five purposes for our lives in the Bible.  But he doesn't list them here!

He does, however list many more verses and quotes which I found encouraging. 

"Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless."  ~Bertrand Russell, atheist

"Obsession with self...is  a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life." 

"...Being successful and fulfilling your life's purpose are not at all the same issue!  You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world's standard, and still miss the purpose for which God created you." Rick Warren, page 19

"To discover your purpose in your life; you must turn to God's Word, not the world's wisdom." RW, pg. 20

"You must build your life on eternal truths, not pop psychology, success motivation, or inspirational stories.." pg. 20

Boo!  Motivational stories have a "feel good" to them!  But it doesn't last...  That's when I used to break out the chocolate or Red Vines...  By age 19, however, the cost of those red vines was far too many pounds on my frame.  I've come to strongly dislike motivation stories because there is no power in their message.  "OK, so I know I'm not supposed to over eat.  So what?  Give me something better!"   

 I think Rick Warren is delivering in the "something better department"...  The quotes and verses are truth.  There's so much more I could reflect on just from Day 1.    The opportunity to think about purpose is such a gift.  I can't wait to internalize the Five Purposes Rick teases on page 20.