PURPOSE

GOD has both a general purpose and a specific purpose for us. There are so many people in world who have no idea what there purpose is. In a general sense, we have been chosen by God to let the love of Jesus shine through us to make an impact on others. More specifically, God has given us unique spiritual gifts and wants us to use them to make a worthwhile contribution within our sphere of influence. The more of us fulfill God's general purpose for us, the clearer our specific purpose will become to us.

SUCCESS

What standard of success do I live by? A question all people may ask themself in life's hills and valleys,ups and downs. When it comes to success, I as child of God must decide whose rules I want to play by. Would we rather be a success in business but a failure as a parent, or vice versa? Would we rather be a success in the world's eyes or in GOD 's eyes? In reality, these are not necessarily mutually exclusive. But if we were given these choices, what a christian would decide? Now is the time to decide what definition of success we will live by. The bible teaches us to define success in terms of faithfulness to GOD. That is the standard by which we must measure everything else. GOD will reward our faithfulness even if we fail in the eyes of the world.

GOALS

The goals many people set cause it a new year or new way of thinking from a self-help book. Reflect what is most important to only (ME) oneself. When we set goals as christian that benefit only ourselves, we do so at the cost of our personal reationship with God. When we set goals that are pleasing to God, then we are truly pursuing the greatest of rewards.

HEALTH

Many things we don't want to do are the thing we should do. Spiritual disciplines (such as prayer, fasting, bible study, and worship) impact our physical life, and physical disciplines (such as exercise, healthy eating habits, and proper hygience) influence our spiritual life too. Spiritual exercise should be as purposeful and strenuous as physical exercise. But remember that the benefits of spiritual fitness last for enternity, while the benefits of physical fitness last only as long as our body. Knowing the eternal benefits of spiritual exercise should motivate us to keep our physical and spiritual health in wholesome balance and help us experience a vibrant and strong relationship with our Creator.