Rick Warren's Blog, page 543

Broken Heart? The Lord Is Close

We���ve all had our heart broken in some way ��� maybe by disappointment, fear, shame, rejection, or ridicule. I would say to you, as your friend, I���m sorry. I really am. I care about the hurt that you have gone through, because God cares about it. He hurts with you. What was God doing when you were weeping? He was weeping, too.

To Get More Passionate, Get Closer to God

God gave you a heart, and he has placed in you passions, desires, and dreams. But unless they are under his control, they will be misused, they will be abused, they will be misapplied, they will be misdirected, and they will be wasted in your life.

Using Your Gifts Is an Act of Worship

When you use the gifts that God has given you, it is an act of worship.

What makes God smile? Some people think God only smiles when you���re praying or singing or going to church. The truth is, God smiles when you use the gifts that he���s given you. When you���re doing what you were wired and shaped to do, God says, ���That���s so cool! I created them to do that!���

You���re Not Just Wanted; You���re Needed!

The reason you have value is because of what God says about you, not because of what other people say about you.

Every Believer Has Spiritual Gifts

When you know what you���re shaped to be, then you know what you ought to be, and you can start focusing on that and make better use of your life.

Even Your Weaknesses Bring Glory to God

Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences ��� these are the five things that make you, you. I call them your SHAPE.

Four Ways to Use Your Spiritual Gifts

How do you start using the spiritual gifts God put inside of you? Here are four ways to get started:

What���s the Big Deal About Your SHAPE?

About 20 years ago I came up with a little acrostic called SHAPE to talk about the five things that make you, you. SHAPE is the way God wired you for your life. Every area of your life is influenced by the way you���re shaped.

You Are Valuable, No Matter Who You Are

We must always protect the sanctity of life, because human life reveals God���s purpose and shows God���s glory.

You are valuable, no matter who you are or where you���re from. And the same is true for every child ��� no matter what society tries to tell you today.

Two Steps to Handle Temptation

he has given in his Word about temptation. Everybody ought to memorize 1 Corinthians 10:13b: ���God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it��� (NIV).