Our Purpose

 

 

There are so many things in these two chapters that are about our purpose...

 

Glorify God! Proclaim His Glory!  God is most after his glory.  God's glory is "the holiness of God put on display" - John Piper

 

What if we wanted what God wanted most? What if we wanted, like Jesus, God's glory above every other thing?  What if the true motive of my life and my heart were to make God known for a few years on this earth?

 

Compel others! God is asking us to go compel people to him.  To compel means to have a powerful or irresistible influence in the lives of others.  We avoid compelling anyone to God because it may feel cheesy or annoying. Well then, we have to find ways to compel that aren't cheesy or annoying.

 

God will give you what you need to accomplish His will.

God knew I could never do this alone.  He always gives us what we need to accomplish his purposes. God has placed people and used circumstances in my life to guide me along the path that can and will be used for Him and His Glory. It has been different people and situations over the past few years, whether my Pastor, cousin Jenn, Johnny Allen, or a chapel full of inmates...He has used these and more in my life to humble me, push or compel me, and teach me how to be used by Him.

 

Complete Project 2 - it is simple yet a precious reminder of how much Jesus loves us and calls us to live.

Anything Study ~ Week Six

Jesus' Anything - Wow! Ever thought about that?  Jesus' act of obedience to the Father is greater than anything we can possibly imagine, let alone accepting and following.  His willingness to do anything for us should bring us to our knees and remind us that He is so worth doing anything for.

John 17:18 "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."  vs. 20-21 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

It's our turn...to be on mission for Jesus, to declare His Glory!

https://youtu.be/cY1EEYFPvqo

 

 

Jesus' example should compel us to pray anything.

 

This week:

Read chapters 14-15

Study John 17:1-25

Do Project One

Anything Study ~ Week Five Wrap Up

"The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God." - Oswald Chambers

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Conversation Cards:

From the list you wrote this week of anything prayers, what is the most difficult thing to release?

Do you think of a walk with Jesus as war? How could that change the way you live?

If God actually told you what He wanted you to do, would you be afraid to do it?

There is a temptation to think surrender should look like the radical, crazy stuff everyone can see.  What small quiet obedient step is God calling you to right now?

How has someone in your life's small obedience fallen into your life like a domino?

Ephesians 2:10, how does the truth that God prepared good works for you to do in advance affect you?

This week's recipe:

Warm Cheesy Spinach Dip

~ Ingredients ~
1 (10 oz) bag frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Pinch of salt
Pinch of black pepper
1/4 cup of water
1 (5 oz) can sliced water chestnuts, diced into small pieces
1 1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, divided
2 tablespoons, crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Pita chips, or sliced veggies for serving

~ Directions ~
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a small baking dish (8x8 inches or smaller) with cooking spray. In a sauté' pan combine the spinach, onions, garlic, salt, and pepper with the water. Cover the pan to steam until the onions are soft, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid and continue to stir and cook until the water is completely evaporated. Add the water chestnuts and stir to combine. Turn off the heat. Add the cottage cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and feta to the sauté' pan. Stir to combine. Pour spinach dip into the prepared baking dish and top with mozzarella and the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and lightly golden brown on top. Enjoy warm and serve with optional pita chips or vegetables if desired.

Play Your Role

It's difficult to live our lives and play our roles and not want to think about "us".  We are selfish creatures but if we really want to live in freedom and live how God has called us to live then praying anything is a must.  Let's live radical lives for Jesus!

Project One is kind of intense...lay out your anything prayers...the things you are holding onto, the things your have to give away, your gifts, talents, possessions, people, fears, hopes, plans??  What's so amazing about our anythings is that they are all unique, that's the God we serve, He has the best plans for us, He has a role for us to play in His great story...to show His Glory!

Chapter 13 talks a lot about the Holy Spirit's work in all of this, He is necessary and we have to listen for His voice.  I underlined this..."Without the Spirit of God to lead our anythings, we will only be do-gooders with our own agendas."  How crucial it is to follow the Spirit's leading and not our own.

My anythings have been revealed over the last 3 years and they are growing and changing and morphing into things I never imagined!  I cannot do this on my own, I don't want to, nothing good can come from Christy Hoagland but Jesus can do remarkable things with my life.  His ways are higher than my ways!

Project Two: Who has helped you love God more?

Anything Study ~ Week Five

Suffering, sacrifice, what does God want from me?  He wants everything...He wants my willingness, He wants an undivided heart.  I want to hold on to this life and live for the next and it just doesn't work.  I love the reference to Mary, the mother of Jesus as she says "I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" Luke 1:38.  Oh, how I want to live like Mary, I want to live for eternal significance...whether in my own home and family, in front of hundreds of people in prisons or churches or one person on the street or anywhere...no one may ever see God's calling on our lives or what He does with our surrendered lives and that's OK, and again we are reminded...it's not about us.

https://youtu.be/6vF58WCgQHs

This week:
Read chapters 11-13
Study Philippians 3:7-11
Do Project One

Embrace the chance to participate in eternity!