Training the next generation

Training the next generation

By Rick Warren

Learning is contagious. You’ve got to want to learn. You must model it. As a leader, this should be second nature to you. All leaders are learners. Rick Warren

"Tell your children about these things, then let your children tell their children, and let your grandchildren tell their children." (Joel 1:3 NCV)

God says we have a responsibility to pass on what we know to those younger than us. That’s a responsibility for all of us – not just parents, but everyone. This responsibility is of extreme importance to you as a pastor. God is calling you to pass on everything he has shown to you to a new generation that will outlive you.
What have we been called to pass on? Knowledge, perspective, conviction, skills, and character.
Jesus modeled all five of these in how he trained his disciples. For the past 27 years, we’ve built Saddleback on these five building blocks as well. Whenever I prepare a message, I’m thinking about each of these five elements. But you don’t have to be a pastor to help people grow in these areas. Teachers, supervisors, parents, and just older friends in your congregation – all of us – need to be passing on these five building blocks to younger generations.
1. Help them to acquire knowledge.
Proverbs 16:16 says, “It’s much better to have wisdom and knowledge than gold and silver.” (NCV) In other words, it’s better to be smart than wealthy. It’s better to have knowledge than money.
How do you help kids or young adults acquire knowledge? There’s lots of ways you can do it. You can take them on trips with you. You can go to the library with them. You can pass on books to them that are important to you. I’m going to pass on a library of more than 10,000 books to my children. Why? It’s part of me passing on a legacy of what I think is important.
Still, the most important way to pass on knowledge to the next generation is for you to be interested in it as well. Learning is contagious. You’ve got to want to learn. You must model it. As a leader, this should be second nature to you. All leaders are learners. I’ve told my staff that for years.
What’s the most important knowledge to acquire? Knowledge about God. The Bible says in Proverbs 1:7: “Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord.” Knowledge of everything else is important. In fact, God wants us to know as much about as many different things as we can, but he wants us to know him more than anything else. The most important knowledge you can pass on to the next generation is knowledge of God. I expect that’s a vital part of your ministry.
2. Help them broaden their perspective. What is perspective? Perspective is seeing life from God’s point of view. That’s not the natural way for us to see things. We normally see life from our point of view. That’s what causes all our problems.
Perspective answers the “why” questions of life, just as knowledge answers the “what” questions. The more you get God’s perspective on life the more you understand why what’s happening is happening.
How do you help young people gain perspective?

• Introduce them to the Bible. Help them to become a Bible reader because God’s perspective is in his Word.
• Introduce them to wise people. The quality of their lives will be determined by the relationships they choose to have.

3.  Help them cultivate convictions.
The people who changed this world – for good or bad – were those with the deepest convictions. They were passionate people. When you have convictions, you can accomplish almost anything.

If kids don’t have convictions, they’ll be captivated by culture. Rick Warren

If kids don’t have convictions, they’ll be captivated by culture. This culture basically has four values: pleasure (“I want to feel good”), possessions, (“I want to make a lot of money”), prestige (“I want other people to envy me”), and power (“I want to be in control”). We can’t allow the next generation to be captivated by these values. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Hold tight to your convictions. Give it all you’ve got. Be resolute.” (MSG) So what to do we do? We share our convictions passionately. Convictions are caught not taught. If you’re excited about your convictions, those whom you lead will be as well. Convictions grab people.
More important though is that convictions must be modeled. In other words, you be what you want them to become. Jesus talked about this in the Gospel of John. John 17:19 says, “For their sake I dedicate myself completely to you, Father, in order that they too may be completely dedicated to you.” (TEV) Jesus modeled conviction for us. Now we must model it for the next generation.

Simply Youth Ministry

For resources designed to help your church develop a purpose driven youth ministry, visit Doug Fields’ Simply Youth Ministry Web site.

4. Help them develop skills.
Skills answer the “how” of life. And today’s youth need our help in developing both learning skills and life skills. They need to learn how to do things from figuring out their multiplication tables, to how to make their bed, to – eventually – how to raise children and get along with a spouse. You see, hard work doesn’t guarantee success. We’d like to think it does, but it doesn’t. I know a lot of people who work hard and are not successful. Why? Because it’s not hard work that brings success. “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.” (Eccl. 10:10 NIV) The Bible says skill will bring success.
So how do you help people develop skills? There are three ways.
First, identify their S.H.A.P.E. (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences). It’s how God has wired us. Want to change the destiny of a young person? Help them understand what they’re good at.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go.”(NIV) The Hebrew there literally means “in his natural bent,” the way he’s naturally wired by God. If you try to train a young person in a way that opposes his S.H.A.P.E., you’re doomed to failure.
Once you’ve helped them figure out what they are good at, you help them practice what they are good at. The only way you develop skill is by doing it over and over and over again. Whether the skill is hitting a baseball or preaching a sermon, the more you do it, the more skilled you become.

If you treat kids like babies, you’re going to have to diaper them the rest of your life. Rick Warren

Then you trust them with responsibility. You’ve got to let them do it on their own. People respond to responsibility. If you treat kids like babies, you’re going to have to diaper them the rest of your life. 5. Help them establish character. This is the pinnacle. God says you’re going to take your character to heaven so that’s what’s important.
The Bible says, “Take on an entirely new way of life, a God-fashioned life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.” (Eph. 4:23-24 MSG) This is one of God’s five purposes for our lives – to grow up and develop the character of Christ.
How do you help young people establish character? There are many ways. Let me just give you two.

• Protect their minds from evil thoughts. Garbage in – garbage out. Proverbs 15:14 says, “A wise person is hungry for truth while the fool feeds on trash.” (NLT) The Bible says we want to keep youth innocent regarding evil, so that they become mature in what is good.
• Don’t protect them from difficulty. As I wrote in chapter 25 of The Purpose Driven Life, we grow through tough times. We build character not by having everything go our way. Failure is not fatal. Everybody’s got to learn that. Allow your kids to learn from their failures.

Anytime you’re around somebody younger than you, you can do these five things. Whether it’s a kid in your church, one of your own children, or a neighborhood kid that needs an older person in his life, there’s someone in your life that needs you to help acquire knowledge, gain perspective, cultivate convictions, develop skills, and grow in character.
A lot of what we do isn’t going to matter five minutes from now much less five years or 500 years from now. But when you’re building into a life, that’s the most important thing you can do. It’ll last for eternity. It has eternal implications.
Who can you help?
Until next week,

God fashioned You

My study as I seeking and waiting for God and wondering about who am I in Him.
God brought me to these scriptures and shown me how he created and formed me in my mother's womb.
I'm sure that we all very familiar with these verses. But for me, it is a revelation to find out who am I. and it is more to these scriptures that I jotted down here. when we, in this is me, myself desperately wanted to know what God has  for me, one of my dear friend suggested to me, why don't you studied about who you are in the Lord. Its made huge different once you know who you are. and this is how this study happened.
I believed God reveals it in the deeper way just for me to see and understand. and I shared this because I believed good things are to be shared and witness for His honours and glory. Thank you to the Holy Spirit who teaches and shows me the truth. so, here the scriptures I came across as I did my study.

Psalm 139:13
For you created my innermost being, You knit me together in my mother's womb.

Psalm 119:73
Your hands made me and formed me

Job 10:11
Clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones ane sinew.

Isa 44:2
This is what the Lord says
he who made you, who formed you in the womb and who will help you.
v.24 This is what the Lord says - Your redeemer, who formed you in the womb. I am the Lord. who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heaven, who spread out the earth, by myself.

Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you in the womb, I know you, before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nation.

Isa 46:3
.....You whom I have upheld since you were coneived, and have carried since your birth.

Psalm 139:4
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works ae wonderful. I know that full well.

Psalm 145:10
All you have made will praise you, O Lord.

He fashoined Eve. He didn't simply made you . He fashioned you with extra special care and meticulous details. You are a thing of beauty, a sight to behold, and one of His most spectacular masterpiece - a work of art, a valuable original, a one of a kind.

Took me more than two years to put this on my blogs.

Jesus Calls You

Jesus Calls You
taken from Meet Me In The Meadow

Don't be foolish or slow of heart, I will not pass you by.
Sit with Me.
I am your healer, the restorer of your soul, and the One who forgives.
Turn to Me.
I will lead you to still waters and quiet resting places.
Walk with Me.
I wait for you with outstretched arms to assure you of My love.
Run to Me.
Let My words be as a flame of love that burns deep within you.
Sup with Me.
 
Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise so easily?
Look to Me.
 
I am your song, I want to fill your heart with My praises.
Delight in Me.
What I have told you, I am faithful to fulfill.
Rest in Me.
 
Let Me open your understanding so you can know all I have done for you.
Learn of Me.
 
I am glorified and have sent you the promise of My Father.
Drink of Me.
 
I will be your source of joy and fruitfulness. You will never be empty.
Abide in Me.
I speak to you the promises that come from My Father’s heart.
Trust in Me.
I place My hands over you and pour out my richest blessings upon you.
Receive from Me.

Prayer of Hope

Prayer of Hope
taken from Meet Me In The Meadow

Father, thank You for being the God of hope and my hope. You alone are the source and the reason for my hope. Because of You, I can pray in hope; walk in hope; believe in hope; endure in hope; overcome in hope; live in hope.
When I look to the future I have hope because You are already in the future. I have a future that is secure because You are my future. Father, it is Your hope that frees from the despair of hopelessness and the insecurity of false hope.
When I look ahead, I do not see the details clearly, but I see You, the One who is in all the details of what is ahead. I believe in Your plan and purpose for my life. You have assured me that I will never be disappointed as I trust in You.
Thank You for the confidence Your hope gives me to be faithful today and to move forward in the pathway You have for my tomorrows.  I put my expectations, not in others, but in You. I am confident that all Your desires for me are good. The hope You give me brings happiness and rejoicing to my heart.
Thank You, Father, for being the author of all the chapters of my life that are yet to come. Thank You that my life will have a happy ending because I will be with You forever, in the place that You have prepared for me and for all those who have put their trust in Your salvation through Jesus Christ.
 Amen.
Scriptures: Psalm 31:24, 39:7, 71:5, 14, 130:5,7, 146:5; Romans 5:5, 8:24-25, 12:12, 15:13; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:5; Colossians 1:5; Titus 1:2, 2:13

Prayer for Guidance

Prayer for Guidance
taken from Meet Me In The Meadow
Heavenly Father, You have promised to guide me, instruct me, and direct my steps. I need to hear Your voice, know Your will, sense Your guidance. I acknowledge You as the One who is wholly and uniquely able and qualified to lead and direct my life. I thank You that You have not asked me to try and figure everything out, to trust in my own reasoning, or to rely upon my understanding of what is best for me.
Father, I receive Your wisdom, knowing that every decision You make is the right decision and the one that is always the best that can be made. You do all things well! I trust in Your timing to bring into my life the right things at the right time, and to keep from me anything I am not ready to receive, no matter how good it may appear.
I believe that as You guide me I will find strength in Your grace, power in Your Spirit, assurance in Your Word, contentment in Your provision, fulfillment in Your purpose. I ask that You will open every door that needs to be opened and close every door that needs to be closed. Lead me and bring me into Your desired place. I want to walk each day with Your peace in my heart. Thank You, Father, that no matter what, I can put my complete trust in You.
Scriptures: Psalm 23:1, Psalm 25:5, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 51:6, Psalm 119:133, Proverbs 3:5-6, Ecclesiastics 3:11, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Acts 1:8, 1 Timothy 6:6, Colossians 3:15, 4:3, Revelation 3:8

Prayer of Peace

Prayer of Peace
taken from Meet Me In The Meadow;

Lord Jesus, I thank You that You are the Prince of Peace and that You have promised to give me Your peace. I receive Your peace, the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that assures me of Your presence, the peace that confirms Your love, the peace that guards my every thought and each emotion.
Thank You that You have come, not to trouble me, but to give me Your rest; not to confuse me, but to give me clarity; not to bind me, but to free me; not to stress me, but to quiet me. Thank You for a peace that endures the trial, overcomes the battle, conquerors the foe, and keeps me steady through the storm.
 
Thank You, Lord, for complete peace, for perfect peace, for a peace that keeps my heart from being troubled. Come now and fill me with Your peace. Thank You for the perfect peace that comes when I put my trust in You. Let it wash over me and flood my innermost being. Show me the ways of peace, keep in the paths of peace, guide me in the decisions that lead to peace. Jesus, be my peace today.
Scriptures: Isaiah 9:6, John 14:27, Luke 1:79, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 29:11, Psalm 55:18, Psalm 85:8, Isaiah 26:3, 32:17, 54:10, 57:19, Romans 14:17, 15:33, Colossians 3:15

Celebrating Oneness With Your Spouse

Celebrating Oneness With Your Spouse

Throughout Scripture, there is a distinct current of celebration, especially as God reveals His intention in creating marriage. When God fashioned Eve and brought her to Adam, they celebrated (Gen. 2:22-25). When Ruth and Boaz were united, there was jubilation (Ruth 4:14). Solomon and Shulamith rejoiced their way through Song of Songs, from the first word in chapter one to the last word in chapter eight. Proverbs is full of exhortations to married couples to enjoy their relationship. Proverbs 5:18 is certainly direct: "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth." "Rejoice” means to reel as though intoxicated. No doubt about it! God’s talking about celebration! To rejoice in your coupleness – to celebrate your oneness – these are words of action that demand choices. If the Holy Spirit lives inside you, you have the power to turn your marriage into jubilation. We’re not saying that every minute of the day is going to be fun and games, but that even when reality hits you hard or tries to numb you with monotony, you can still rejoice in each other’s love.
We’ve identified 11 actions you must decide to take in order to enjoy such celebration in your marriage. To help you remember these choices, we’ve made an acrostic of the first letter of each one – spelling C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-I-N-G.
Clear Your Conscience
Obviously, you need to start by clearing your conscience before God, praying with the psalmist, "Search me, O God, and know my heart… see if there is any offensive way in me” (Ps. 139:23-24). Then you need to clear your conscience before others. This may mean humbly seeking someone’s forgiveness. And the "someone” on the top of your list should be your mate.
We have learned as a couple that to keep our consciences clear before each other, we need to pray together regularly. When we are sharing together honestly with God, we are - at the same time - sharing honestly with each other. The two go hand in hand. In our marriage, this is the way we have learned to keep short accounts with one another and with God.
If you keep your conscience clear before God and your mate and if you pray for and with each other, your marriage will be blessed with health. For when we share our failures with each other, we unmask them and defeat their power over us.
Encourage Spiritual Growth
The key word here is encourage. Another word for encourage is "spur” as in Hebrews 10:24: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” News flash: nagging, criticizing, hinting, pushing, advising, preaching and even heavy sighing are not what we’re talking about!
You might say the best way to spur your mate to grow is to duck. That’s right – duck! Get out of the way! All your efforts to make your mate grow can actually be a barrier between that person and God. You have to get out of the way so God can get a good shot at ‘em. So sometimes the best way to encourage is to shut your mouth, smile sweetly and pray like crazy.
Another way we’ve found to encourage spiritual growth in our relationship is to read God’s Word together regularly, taking God’s command seriously to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (Col. 3:16).
Lower Your Defenses
Harv is rushing around, trying to leave for the office. His wife, Louse, remarks, “Your tie is crooked.” Harv responds sarcastically, “Do you have any more encouraging words for me today?” Louise shrugs, “I was only trying to help.” “Well, thanks! I don’t know how I ever made it before I married you,” Harv bellows as he storms out the door.
Does anything like this ever happen at your house? This is defensiveness – self-protection.
Self-protection obviously is centered around self. It will brutalize your marriage relationship unless you take action. You must choose a better way – God’s way. “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:4-5).
Here are some practical steps you can take to lower your defenses:

1. Analyze your defensiveness. Ask yourself questions like, “What was I feeling when I
   responded defensively? What did my reaction communicate?” “ Do particular words or scenarios trigger my reactions?”
2. Talk about your defensiveness. Choose a time when you and your mate can talk without
   distractions. Really listen to each other.
3. Review and rehearse your defensiveness. Avoid statements that sound judgmental. As you
   review what happened, stay away from “You should…” “You never …” Instead, use “I think …” “I feel …”

Enlist in His Service Together
God made you a team. He wants to use you as a team. Priscilla and Aquila are a great example of a couple in Scripture who served God as a team. They were tentmakers in Corinth when Paul first met them. He was a guest in their home for a year and a half, then he took Priscilla and Aquila with him when he continued his missionary journey to Ephesus.
After the three of them arrived in Ephesus, Paul left them there to carry on the church-planting work. Can you imagine how they must have felt? They had been left alone in a foreign land, far from home, just the two of them. Priscilla and Aquila were ready for God to use them anytime, anywhere. They worked together in ministry, bringing people to the Lord and opening their home whenever needed.
This was indeed a couple God could count on. Can He count on you?
Bust Up Bitterness with Forgiveness
God says bitterness is like a root that takes hold and grows in our lives (Heb. 12:15). When weeds are ignored, they take over the whole garden. That’s what bitterness does – it takes over our minds and hearts.
Ephesians 4:31 - 5:2 makes it clear we have several choices to make in the process of busting up bitterness. We must choose to get rid of the bitterness and anger within us. Since God is the One we are to imitate in the way we forgive, we need to understand how He forgives us. God does not withhold forgiveness. On the contrary, He forgives completely, with no remembrance of our sin. He says He hurls all our iniquities into the depths of the sea (Mic. 7:19). He never brings them back up to hold over our heads.
Recreate Together
You’ve gotta earn a living. You’ve gotta take the kids to soccer. You’ve gotta mow the lawn. Life is so full of “you’ve gottas,” that you can push having fun together to the very end of your to-do lists, like it’s not as important as the serious stuff. Wrong! Sometimes it’s the most important thing you can do.
You need regular reminders that it’s fun to be with that person you married. Take time to stroll along a beach together at sunset, hike a trail, go out for a milk shake, feed the ducks at the pond, or simply take a walk around the block. Of course, you can find more elaborate, expensive things to do, but don’t let finances stand in your way of having fun. It doesn’t take money to enjoy spending time together.
Adore God with Praise and Worship
Why wait until Sunday to worship God with others, when there are two of you who can worship and praise Him daily?
You can respond in worship to the Lord as a couple in many ways. We hope you are worshiping Him together in your church. You can experience a real unity of spirit as you praise God together with His people. But you can also worship Him anywhere, anytime, together as a couple. Sing hymns and praise songs together in the car, around the house, before a meal, working together in the yard, playing with your children. Make praise a part of your couple and family prayers. Read God’s praises in His Word together. Let praise and worship saturate your lives as a couple and as a family. Make it a habit. Make it one of the most natural things you do.
Talk Transparently
To talk with each other transparently means to communicate with complete emotional openness and truthfulness in your relationship. Transparency means being honest in sharing your hopes, fears, dreams, fulfillments, disappointments and joys. It is more than talking about a fleeting feeling; it is total personal involvement with one another. God made you for transparency, not with everybody, but with Himself and with one other person—your mate.
Again, we urge you to pray together, for as you pray honestly about your hopes and dreams and aspirations, as well as your failures and doubts and sin, you will become more and more open with the Lord and with each other. You will become less and less afraid to show the real you. You will come to experience the transparency God intended for you.
Intimately Relate
The word intimacy comes from the Latin word intimus, which means “innermost or deepest.” Therefore, when we speak of sexual intimacy, we’re talking about two whole persons sharing themselves completely with one another in an honored relationship (see Gen. 2:24).
God created you to enjoy sexual intimacy with your spouse. Proverbs 5:18 says to rejoice in the wife of your youth. Find out for yourself what He says about sex throughout Scripture, especially Proverbs and Song of Solomon. A few books that may help you put sex into proper perspective are Intended for Pleasure by Ed and Gaye Wheat (Fleming H. Revell), The Gift of Sex by Cliff and Joyce Penner (Word), and A Celebration of Sex by Douglas Rosenau (Thomas Nelson).
Negotiate Decisions as a Team
Couples sometimes behave as if they are roommates or business partners. We could never get away with making solitary decisions in a business partnership. What makes us think it is good, sound policy for our marriage partnership?
Whether deciding what car to buy, where to go on vacation, or what restaurant to eat in, don’t settle it in your own mind before talking it over with your partner. Discuss and agree on decisions that affect you both before informing others, and reach a satisfactory solution both of you can own.
When you negotiate decisions as a team, you nip a lot of potential resentment in the bud, and you open new ways of celebrating your partnership. You are a team. Jesus said so Himself. Rejoice in your teamship!
Give Honor To Your Mate
Husbands, be sensitive to your wife’s needs. Ask what she needs; then listen carefully. Pay attention to her when she talks with you. Accept her feelings. You may not understand them, but you must respect them as real and viable.
Wives, magnify your husband’s strengths, not his weaknesses. Do not review past failures, and love your husband for who and what he is right now. Celebrate your relationship by giving honor to one another and by giving honor to your marriage. God wants you to see your mate through the eyes of Jesus, with all the potential He sees.
-Pastors.com-

A List of God’s Promises of Blessing

A List of God’s Promises of Blessing

By Rick Warren

Here’s a list of God’s promises of blessing if you stay committed to his calling --

• We don’t deserve God’s blessings. “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” John 1:16 (NIV)

• But God enjoys blessing his children and wants to bless you! “I will enjoy blessing them. With all my heart and soul I will faithfully plant them in this land.” Jeremiah 32:41 (GW)

• “My blessings are for Gentiles, too, when they accept the Lord; don't let them think that I will make them second-class citizens. They can be as much mine as anyone.” Isaiah 56:3 (LB)

• God promises to bless you IF you follow his instructions. Every promise has a premise; there’s a condition attached.

• “You will experience all these blessings IF you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in your towns and in the country. You will be blessed with many children and productive fields. You will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks. You will be blessed with baskets overflowing with fruit, and with kneading bowls filled with bread. You will be blessed wherever you go, both in coming and in going. The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you… And the Lord will bless everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain.” Deuteronomy 28:2-8 (NLT)

• God wants to bless you visibly in front of others as a testimony. “Lord, you have stored up great blessings for those who honor you. You do much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.” Psalm 31:19 (NLT)

• God blesses you so you can be a blessing to others! “I will cause my people and their homes around my holy hill to BE a blessing. And I will send showers, showers of blessings, which will come just when they are needed.” Ezekiel 34:26 (NLT)

• God’s blessing can be passed on to generations. You can create a legacy. “After Abraham's death, God poured out rich blessings on Isaac.” Genesis 25:11 (NLT)

• It’s never too late to start living a God-blessed life! “The Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the first half of his life.” Job 42:12

• God promises to bless my life IF I meet with him daily. “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching DAILY at my doors, waiting at my doorway.” Proverbs 8:34

• God promises to bless my life IF I study and do his Word. “Blessed is the man… whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his word he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

• “The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25

• God promises to bless my life IF I tithe my income. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:10

• God promises to bless my life IF I help others in need, especially the poor. “God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless. He helps them out of their own troubles. He protects them and keeps them alive; he publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies.” Psalm 41:1-2

• “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9

• God promises to bless my life IF I share the Good News. “I pray you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will fully understand every blessing we have in Christ.” Philemon 1:6

• “The man who PLANTS and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:8

• “Good people bless and build up their city.” Proverbs 11:11

• God promises to bless my life IF I participate in fellowship with other believers. “I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.” Romans 1:12

• “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed IF you DO them.” John 13:17

More of the many verses on blessing in the Bible –

• “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.” Proverbs 10:22 (NIV)

• “For those who are always generous and lend freely, their children will be blessed.” Psalm 37:26 (NIV)

• “If you return to the Almighty, you will be blessed again. So remove evil from your house.” Job 22:23 (NCV)

• “Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice." Luke 11:28 (NLT)

• “(Help the unfortunate…) and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Luke 14:14 (NIV)

• “Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures.” Deuteronomy 15:10 (Msg)

• “Worship the Lord your God and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.” Exodus 23:25 (NIV)

• “‘Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

• “Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” Deuteronomy 15:10 (NIV)

• “Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things.” Psalm 128:1-2 (NCV)

• “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 (NIV)

• "If they listen and obey God, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.” Job 36:11 (NLT)

• "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” Job 5:17 (NIV)

• “Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers.” Psalm 1:1 (GW)

• “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.” Psalm 40:4 (NIV)

• “Blessed are those who dwell in your house to worship; they are ever praising you.” Psalm 84:4 (NIV)

• “Give freely to the poor person, and do not wish that you didn't have to give. The Lord your God will bless your work and everything you touch.” Deuteronomy 15:10 (NCV)

• “Blessed is the man who trusts in you.” Psalm 84:12 (NIV)

• “If the place of worship is too far from your home for you to carry there the tithe of the produce that the Lord has blessed you with, then do this: Sell your produce and take the money with you to the one place of worship.” Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (TEV)

• “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.” Psalm 89:15 (NIV)

• “Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.” Psalm 106:3 (NIV)

• “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.” Psalm 128:1 (NIV)

• “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.” Psalm 41:1-2 (NIV)

• “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalm 112:1-2 (NIV)

• “Blessed are those who keep my ways.” Proverbs 8:32 (NIV)

• “Each of these blessings depends on your not turning aside in any way from the laws I have given you; and you must never worship other gods.” Deuteronomy 28:14 (Living)

• “Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law.” Psalm 94:12 (NIV)

• “It is sin to despise one's neighbors; blessed are those who help the poor.” Proverbs 14:21 (NLT)

• “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (NIV)

• “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 (NIV)

• “Good people will be generous to others and will be blessed for all they do.” Isaiah 32:8 (NLT)

• “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding.” Proverbs 3:13 (NIV)

• “A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 28:20 (NIV)

• “The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.” Proverbs 3:33 (NIV)

• “People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.” Proverbs 11:26 (NIV)

• “He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.” Proverbs 14:21 (NIV)

• “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20 (NIV)

• “An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.” Proverbs 20:21 (NIV)

• “It will go well with those who convict the guilty and rich blessing will come upon them.” Proverbs 24:25 (NIV)

• “Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.” Proverbs 28:14 (NIV)

• “The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice, blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

• “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

• “The best of all the first fruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household.” Ezekiel 44:30 (NIV)

• “Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” Deuteronomy 16:17 (NIV)

• “Blessed is the man… whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on is word he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

• “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. ‘Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”’ Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

• "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Matthew 5:3-11 (NIV)

• “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 11:28 (NIV)

• “Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed.”’ John 20:29 (NIV)

• “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 (NIV)

• “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)

• “The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 (NIV)

• “Even if you should suffer for what is right, you will be blessed.” 1 Peter 3:14

• “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” 1 Peter 4:14 (NIV) 

• “If you can't carry that ten percent of your harvest to the place where the Lord chooses to be worshiped; if you live too far away, or if the Lord gives you a big harvest, then sell this part and take the money there instead.” Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (CEV)

• “You should be happy to give the poor what they need, because then the Lord will make you successful in everything you do.” Deuteronomy 15:10 (CEV)

• “… Each man is to bring a gift as he is able, in proportion to the blessings that the Lord your God has given him.” Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (TEV)

• “Obey the Lord your God so that all these blessings will come and stay with you: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. Your children will be blessed, as well as your crops; your herds will be blessed with calves and your flocks with lambs. Your basket and your kitchen will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and when you go out. The Lord will help you defeat the enemies that come to fight you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will run from you in seven directions. The Lord will bless you with full barns, and he will bless everything you do.” Deuteronomy 28:2-8 (NCV)

• “I will also bless the Gentiles who commit themselves to the Lord and serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who have accepted his covenant.” Isaiah 56:6 (NLT)

• "A beautiful palace does not make a great king! Why did your father, Josiah, reign so long? Because he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him.” Jeremiah 22:15 (NLT)

• “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will comes to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.” Psalm 112:1-9 (NIV)

• “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV)

• “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing.” Proverbs 10:7 (NIV)

• “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20 (NIV)

• “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” Proverbs 21:21 (NIV)

• Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Luke 14:12-14 (NIV)

• “You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift.” 2 Cor. 9:11 (CEV)

• “The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 (NIV)

• “If the place of worship is too far from your home for you to carry there the tithe of the produce that the Lord has blessed you with, then do this: Sell your produce and take the money with you to the one place of worship.” Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (TEV)

• “Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” Deuteronomy 16:17 (NIV)

• “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalm 112:1-2 (NIV)

• “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding.” Proverbs 3:13 (NIV)

• “Blessed are those who keep my ways.” Proverbs 8:32 (NIV)

• “They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.” Psalm 37:26 (NIV)

• “The best of all the first fruits will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest        on your household.” Ezekiel 44:30 (NIV)

• “Give freely without begrudging it, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some among you who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with others in need.” Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (NLT)

• “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in his times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.” Psalm 41:1-2 (NIV)

• “Good people will be generous to others and will be blessed for all they do.” Isaiah 32:8 (NLT)

• “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 11:28 (NIV)

• “I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.  In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.” Romans 1:12 (NLT)

• “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. ‘Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”’ Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

• “The best of all the first fruits will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household.” Ezekiel 44:30 (NIV)

• “You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:11 (CEV)

• “If the place of worship is too far from your home for you to carry there the tithe of the produce that the Lord has blessed you with, then do his: Sell your produce and take the money with you to the one place of worship.” Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (TEV)

• “God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless. He helps them out of their own troubles. He protects them and keeps them alive; he publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies.” Psalm 41:1-2 (LB)

• “Give freely without begrudging it, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some among you who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with others in need.” Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (NLT)

• “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed IF you DO them.” John 13:17

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times best seller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.



Copyright © 2010 Rick Warren

Stay humble or you’ll stumble

Stay humble or you’ll stumble

By Rick Warren

Stay humble or you’ll stumble as a leader. It’s an irrevocable law of ministry – and life for that matter. The Bible says in Proverbs 29:23, “Arrogance will bring your downfall but if you’re humble, you will be respected.” (GNB)
What does it mean to be humble? It’s not denying your strengths. That’s just being phony. That’s false humility. Don’t try to hide what you’re not good at.
Humility means being honest about your weaknesses. When Paul asked God to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” God told Him that His power was made perfect in weakness. You show those you lead the power of God working through you when you come clean about what you’re not good at.
Humility means realizing how much you owe other people. You didn’t get the opportunities you’ve gotten on your own. Others have helped. Don’t forget the many people who shaped you and helped you get were you are. And then don’t forget the people in your life today who make you better. We all stand on the shoulders of other people. Humility means acknowledging those other people.
Humility means being honest about who you are. At one point I thought Paul had an ego trip because he’d write sentences like, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” But it’s not arrogant. It’s honest. He was saying, “At least I’m making an attempt to try to live for the Lord and that’s better than a lot of people are doing.”
Paul could be honest about his strengths because he was also honest about his weaknesses. He wrote at various times, “I come to you in weakness with great fear and trembling … I’m the least of the apostles … the chief of sinners.” He never shied away from his weaknesses.

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times best seller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.



Copyright © 2010 Rick Warren

Prayer for a New Year

Prayer for a New Year

Lord,
There are many uncertainties in our world but what matters most will never change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

We believe You are with us, for us, and surrounding us with Your love. So do not fear, for I am with you... I will strengthen you and help you. Isaiah 41:10

No matter what happens, You will guide us and fulfill Your purposes for us. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Even in hard times we can be confident that we will have victory through you. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

We trust you will take care of us and bless us in more ways than we can imagine.
God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

We give each moment and every day to You. Most of all, we give ourselves too.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 5:10
Amen.