When God Seems Distant - Day 14

Have you ever had that experience when it seemed like you lost your connection with God?

Job simply amazes me every time I'm reminded of his story.

When things aren't going great, can you still worship God?

Developing Your Friendship with God - Day 12

Remember the bumper sticker that said, "If you feel far from God, guess who moved"?

You and I are as close to God as we choose to be.

"Draw close to God and God will draw close to you." (James 4:8a NLT)

What practical choices will you make today in order to grow closer to God?

Becoming Best Friends with God - Day 11

God wants us to be His friends! He wants to be my best friend.

"Friendship with God is resered for those who reverence Him". (Ps. 25:14a LB)

What reminds you of God's presence in your life throughout your day?

The Heart of Worship - Day 10

Surrender. Why is that such a tough word?

"We accept our humanity intellectually, but not emotionally."

Surrender you whole being to Him to be used for righteous purposes. (Rom. 6:13b TEV)

How does the battle of surrender show up in your life?

Make God Smile! - Day 9

Worship is giving God pleasure, and He's pleased most when I trust Him.

The Lord is pleased with those who worship Him and trust His love. (Ps. 147:11)

Since God knows what is best, in what areas of my life do I need to trust Him most?

Planned for God's Pleasure - Day 8

Today begins the second week of our 40 Days and this week is all about the purpose of worship.

Of all the five purposes we'll discover, this may be the most "elusive". Our Christian culture has made "worship" harder, not easier to understand by attaching meanings to the word that limit or distort.

This week through Sunday we'll get a clearer understanding of this life transforming purpose.

Verse to remember: The Lord takes pleasure in His people. (Ps. 149:4a TEV)

For thought and discussion: How does the realization that every act of ministry (service to the church) should be an act of worship change your outlook on your particular area of ministry? Do you ever "do your duty" and fail to see it as a way of worshipping God?

The Reason for Everything - Day 7

What a challenging chapter in TPDL. It makes me ask, "Am I living for God's glory?" Either I am, or I'm living for my own glory.

"For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory." (Rom. 11:36 LB)

How does God correct you when you veer off the path of glorifying Him?

Life is a Temporary Assignment - Day 6

Where's your citizenship?

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Cor. 4:18 NIV)

How should the fact that life on earth is just a temporary assignment change the way I am living right now?

Life is a Test and a Trust - Day 5

In our devotional today Rick Warren writes: "In my own life I have noticed that God tests my faith through problems, tests my hope by how I handle possessions, and tests my love through people."

How have you found this to be true in your own life? Share an example with us.

Verse to remember: Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones. (Lk. 16:10a NLT)

Made to Last Forever - Day 4

Matthew Henry, who in the 19th century wrote one of Christianity's classic commentaries on the Bible, wrote, "It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our final day."

Today's devotional reminds us that we live now to prepare for eternity.

Point to ponder: There is more to life than just here and now.

Verse to remember: "This world is fading away along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will life forever." (Jn. 2:17 NLT)

Up for discussion: Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing and the one thing I should start doing today?

Feel free to jump in the conversation.

What Drives Your Life? Day 3

Today's devotional from The Purpose Driven Life really gets to the heart of the matter about the meaning to our lives.

"Your weren't put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity." What a wake up call!

Verse to meditate on today: "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." (Is. 26:3 TEV)

Think on this and share it with us: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?

You are not an accident - Day 2

If you began a prayer journal during 40 Days of Prayer, keep it up! And occasionally go back through it to see how God is answering your prayers and how you are growing in your prayer life. If you didn't begin a journal, now is a great time to start one.

From today's Purpose Driven Life devotional...

Main thought: God created you with a purpose in mind, no matter who you are or how you arrived.

Verse to remember: "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." (Is. 44:2 CEV)

Discuss this question: Knowing that God uniquely created me, what areas of my personality, background and physcial appearance am I struggling to accept?

It all starts with God

From today's devotional reading in The Purpose Driven Life...

Point to ponder: "It's not about me."

Verse to remember: "Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him." (Col. 1:16b Msg)

Question to answer: "In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?"

Feel free to jump in with your thoughts.

Day 40! - The First 40 are done today.

Each day a new post will allow you to comment on how God is teaching you and how your focus on prayer is making a difference. Feel free to share prayer requests. If they're for another person, please have their permission before posting. And share how God is answering your prayers as well.

Let's use this daily and regularly to encourage one another!

We get a two day break. Then 40 Days of Purpose begin on Monday! This blog will continue under the banner of 40 Days of Purpose. Keep checking in!

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” - Mt. 9:38

Day 39

Each day a new post will allow you to comment on how God is teaching you and how your focus on prayer is making a difference. Feel free to share prayer requests. If they're for another person, please have their permission before posting. And share how God is answering your prayers as well.

Let's use this daily and regularly to encourage one another!

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. - Mt. 6:5-8

Day 38

Each day a new post will allow you to comment on how God is teaching you and how your focus on prayer is making a difference. Feel free to share prayer requests. If they're for another person, please have their permission before posting. And share how God is answering your prayers as well.

Let's use this daily and regularly to encourage one another!

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. - Mt. 5:44-45

Day 37

Each day a new post will allow you to comment on how God is teaching you and how your focus on prayer is making a difference. Feel free to share prayer requests. If they're for another person, please have their permission before posting. And share how God is answering your prayers as well.

Let's use this daily and regularly to encourage one another!

We're almost to our goal!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
- Jer. 29:11-13

Day 36

Each day a new post will allow you to comment on how God is teaching you and how your focus on prayer is making a difference. Feel free to share prayer requests. If they're for another person, please have their permission before posting. And share how God is answering your prayers as well.

Let's use this daily and regularly to encourage one another! We're almost to our goal!

Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, - Ps. 119:107-108

Day 35

It's Sunday! Our last Sunday of these 40 Days. Let's pray for it to be a fantastic Lord's Day.
Burnie is bringing the Word today at church. Pray for him.

A reminder - we've moved Communion to First Wednesday, so in case you were planning to come to church tonight, don't!

We'll hear more about 40 Days of Purpose today. It starts with a great kick off rally Saturday night.

Each day a new post will allow you to comment on how God is teaching you and how your focus on prayer is making a difference. Feel free to share prayer requests. If they're for another person, please have their permission before posting. And share how God is answering your prayers as well.

Let's use this daily and regularly to encourage one another!

But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me.
Morning, noon, and night I plead aloud in my distress,
and the LORD hears my voice. -Ps. 55:16-17

Day 34

Only 7 days until we kick off 40 Days of Purpose!

Each day a new post will allow you to comment on how God is teaching you and how your focus on prayer is making a difference. Feel free to share prayer requests. If they're for another person, please have their permission before posting. And share how God is answering your prayers as well.

Let's use this daily and regularly to encourage one another!

I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. *Selah

For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him.
You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. *Selah - Psalm 32:5-7

*Selah - "stop and think about this"