Rick Warren's Blog, page 599

God Wants You to Join the Party!

Jesus told a story to explain the party that God has invited you to: ���A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, and asked to be excused. Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. Another had just been married and for that reason couldn���t come.

You���re not Alone in the Waiting Room

When you���re waiting on God, remember that you���re in good company.

Millions of saints before you have sat in God���s waiting room. You���re not alone. In fact if you���re in the waiting room right now ��� maybe you���re waiting on a job, on an answer, or on a prayer ��� there are a lot of other people around you who are in that same situation.

The Unseen Battle Over Your Prayers

There is an unseen battle going on in a realm that we don���t even understand. We don���t see it. We don���t feel it. But there is a spiritual war in other dimensions between good and evil, between God and Satan, between angels and demons.

Five Things to Do While You Wait

When God has you in a waiting period, don���t put your life on hold. Instead, imitate the habits that grow strong faith.

The Bible says there are five things you should keep on doing even in the waiting period.

Small Lessons Lead to Big Successes

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and across the wilderness to the Promised Land. It should have only taken them a few weeks, even with a large crowd. But it took them 40 years.

Generous People Are Happy People

Jesus said in Acts 20:35, ���There is more happiness in giving than in receiving��� (TEV).

Generosity increases your happiness. Everybody knows this! The only people who don���t know it are people who aren���t generous.

The More You Give Away, the More Influential You���ll Be

Generosity expands your influence. The more generous you become, the more influential you will become.

Influence comes not from what you get in life. Influence comes from what you give away in life, and the more you give away, the more influential you���ll be.

Your Significance Comes from Serving

To experience significance in life, you must serve with others in ministry. Ministry just means doing good to other people.

Significance does not come from status or a hood ornament on your car or a logo on your shirt. Significance does not come from a bigger salary. Significance does not come from sex.

You Significance Comes from Serving

To experience significance in life, you must serve with others in ministry. Ministry just means doing good to other people.

Significance does not come from status or a hood ornament on your car or a logo on your shirt. Significance does not come from a bigger salary. Significance does not come from sex.

God Created You to Need Other People

There are some things you will never learn on your own. You only learn them in community. To grow and develop your potential, you must learn from other people.

For instance, you can only learn forgiveness in relationships. You can���t learn that on your own. You can only learn loyalty in relationships. You can only learn love in relationships. You can���t learn kindness or faithfulness or graciousness or unselfishness without others.