Sunday’s Food for Thought – Focus on purposes or Focus on problems?
Today I’d like to share with you a little extract from an interview Paul Bradshaw had with Rick Warren, ‘Purpose Driven Life ‘ author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California. Rick’s wife, Kay, now has cancer and his view on life has changed after going through life’s super highs and lows.
I’m sure it’ll be an insightful and inspirational read.
Enjoy.
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This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys – you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don’t believe that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it’s kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.
And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems:
If you focus on your problems, you’re going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.’ But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?
Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God’s purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn’t put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He’s more interested in what I am than what I do.
That’s why we’re called human beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
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Jennie Chiong:
Thanks for sharing how you too have been inspired by the book, Jennie!
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Liz Beh :
Thanks for sharing, Liz! It’s very encouraging to hear how others have been encouraged too …
PS : I think it’s often too easy for us all to be more like ‘Martha’ … I’m no different.
This.. i tell ya.. is one great post. Who needs an hour long sermon to be touched? Your words touched me.. you are so right on. I know I’m a “Martha” and I’m often soooo focused on things to be done.. At the end of the day.. have I gone to the throne of God?? Have I trusted Him?? Thank you.. and Thank God for your post.
Lov.. Liz
Hi Leonny,
This is indeed a good book to share…even as a non-christian, I find that this is a good book to read on.
Esp. when we in today’s hectic lifestyle – many times, we’re involved in too many stuffs & I totally agreed to this phrase you lifted: “If you focus on your problems, you’re going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.’ But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.”
Once again, many thanks for sharing…