Rick Warren's Blog, page 622

When You Hit A Detour, Don���t Give Up!

When God gives you a mission, you can be sure you���ll run into delays, difficulties, detours, and dead ends along the way. They are a natural part of life. But you can be ready for them.

Shortcuts Are Shortsighted

One of the pitfalls you may face as you fulfill your purpose in life is temptation to take shortcuts.

In truth, these shortcuts will only get you off track. The shortcuts may be moral, ethical, spiritual, financial, or even relational.

To Hear God, Get Near God

You say, ���I want to trust God, but I don't hear him.���

You don't hear God when your mind is filled with a thousand other distractions. To hear God, you���ve got to get near God. You've got to get alone with God and be quiet.

Whose Voice Are You Listening To?

Have you noticed that the moment you establish a goal in your life, you start hearing people say, ���Who do you think you are?��� or ���It can't be done��� or ���Forget about it���?

Don���t Let Distractions Keep You From Your Best

One of the most important tests we all face as we try to achieve what God has called us to do is cultural distractions. Can you relate to losing your focus because of any of these distractions?

Be Wise: Look Ahead and Face Reality

Many people in life start out well, but they end up progressing poorly because they don't plan for the pitfalls. But the Bible says the wise man looks ahead and faces reality.

As we make plans for our future, we all face pitfalls, such as cultural distractions, voices of doubt, tempting shortcuts, and discouraging delays. Just look at Noah: He had pitfalls after God told him to build the ark, but he overcame them ��� and you can, too.

How Does God Respond to Your Generosity?

I heard a story about a man who took his son to McDonalds and bought him super size French fries. On the way home, those fries smelled so good, so he reached over and took one little French fry out of his son���s carton and ate it. His son got all upset and said, ���Dad, you can���t have that one. These are my fries!��� The dad immediately had three thoughts:

Which Will You Serve: God or Money?

Would you agree that we live in a culture of materialism? It���s like the goal is to get more and more and more. And just about the time you catch up with the Joneses, they refinance or file bankruptcy. And just about the time you think you���ve got it all, the Christmas advertisements come out, and they tell you about all kinds of things you didn���t know you couldn���t live without.

Four Heart Attitudes for Giving

How do you have the attitude God wants you to have when you give? It starts with your heart. God is a lot more interested in your willingness to give than your wealth, because he���s interested in what���s happening in your heart when you decide to give.

The Best Investment You���ll Ever Make

Generosity is an investment. Luke 16:9 says, ���Use your worldly resources to benefit others��� (NLT, second edition). I���ve said many times that you can���t take it with you. Did you know that mortuaries sell burial suits? They���re for people who want to be buried in a suit but don���t have one. Do you know what the difference is in a burial suit? There are no pockets in them! It���s true! You don���t need them, because you can���t take it with you. But you can send it on ahead.