[1: 1,948 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 42 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 42: The people-pleaser trap

Rick warned and started with the question, “Whose approval are you living for?” And he then continued, “People-pleasing is the flip side of envy. Envy says, ‘I must be like you to be happy!’ People-pleasing says, ‘I must be liked by you to be happy.'” The only approval that I must seek is God’s so I won’t lose the grip of my life. With God, I will never feel insecure because He will never reject me and it’s the right path.

May I have the courage to be confident to do my life’s mission and speak about the love of God without fearing what others may think and never doubt my testimony. I will seek God’s help to break free when I am in the mute and inaction situations.

It was indeed enlightening that even God can’t please and make all happy because we were given the free will that we have to choose to know and follow Him.

And with that, I also share a prayer from Rick Warren that ended this book journey but the beginning of a meaningful and beautiful life: My sincere prayer is that you will begin to experience all that God has in store for you. “No mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord!”

[1: 1,947 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 41 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 41: The Envy Trap

Rick created this and the next chapter as the great reminder of what can weaken a maturing Christian. I am grateful that envying doesn’t stumble me because I am happy and appreciative of the success and happiness of other people. I’ve known for a while now that we are each unique and yet connected in the bigger picture.

Rick was right validating that we must honor our life’s purpose, “To attempt to be what you weren’t created to be always lead to frustration, fatigue, and failure.” And yet, there are moments that we like what we don’t have and when there’s bitterness and bad intentions then it fall into sins. Rick has written a powerful statement when he said, “The worst part of envy is that it’s an insult to God!” God never made a mistake in creating each of us, each one is a masterpiece.

God says such comparisons are foolish. Because you are incomparable! Life on earth is unfair because of sin, not because of God.

[1: 1,946 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 40 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 40: Living with purpose

I’ve reached the 40th day and this chapter is the best way to do my engraving to not forget and have a map to move forward.

1. Worship. I have to put God at the center of my life and I will keep Him there through worship. If he’s not there, I worry. I worry a lot and now I know exactly why because I have deviated too far off from God. I do feel that when I choose love over fear then I have peace again.
2. Discipleship. It takes a lifetime to build Christlike character but I can start from the fruit of the Spirit or the 8 Beatitudes. The character qualities that I will work on and develop in my life will live through eternity. I always have the inclination towards honesty, integrity, fairness, kindness and good intentions.
3. Service. Paul said that the service I perform not only meets the needs of God’s people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God. I do believe that the highest compliment that I will ever receive is a “thank you” from a stranger because my very existence and action moved him or her in a beautiful way.  God has given me so much, so it is rightfully so that I give Him more through my service to others and with that I and the people I served glorify Him.
4. Mission. My life is so meaningful because I believe God is real even if I don’t see or hear Him as a human being. My favorite prayer to God is, “May You bless our hearts so we remember You and we live our life with love for one another.” I have lived my life with entitlement and I am also very sensitive of not making anyone feel left alone, and so I strive to be compassionate and humble to love everyone in doing that I may be performing my mission that they knew God through me.
5. Fellowship. I feel like I have outgrown the ways of my Catholic Church but I have to be part of one to fulfill one of my key purposes, which will also help me grow more mature.

[1: 1,945 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 39 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 39: Balancing your life

Jesus modeled a purpose-driven life and He taught us how to live it:

1. Helped us to know and love God (worship)
2. Taught us to love each other (fellowship)
3. Gave us the word so we could grow to maturity (discipleship)
4. Showed us how to serve (ministry)
5. Sent us out to tell others (mission)

The challenge now is to take all this inspiration that I’ve felt into practice and to balance them all. The truth is growth takes patience, perseverance, and doing the mundane even when I no longer feel the swoosh of sparks and it is then that I have to enjoy the present, remember what matters eternally, and have faith (pray harder) that I am in the right track.

I heard an interview of Sufi mystic, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee and he described God as a beloved and he said if you love someone you would think about the person all the time and see the person in everything… now imagine when you discovered your love to God who loves you back unconditionally. It is that moment that you would not want not to be with God all the time. May I have the flare of sharing God as a beautiful and a privilege mission.

[1: 1,944 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 38 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 38: Becoming a world-class Christian

I found a beautiful one-line prayer in this chapter, “Father, help me to understand what is keeping this person from knowing you.”

My sister, who is my sole housemate and my favorite travel companion told me that she doesn’t connect with God. I know that she prays when she’s nervous and hopeful about something but she doesn’t have a constant communication with God. She doesn’t see the value of praying daily.

I try to live the way Jesus lived to inspire her and I hope to get spiritual guidance, “Father, help me to understand what is keeping this person from knowing you.” I feel extreme happiness knowing I speak to God anytime through prayers, that I go to bed on most nights with a grateful heart for the beautiful day and for my beautiful life.

I am on my next journey to surrender and hear my mission to serve the best of my ability. A mission delivered so clear that I understood it and be on it with 100% commitment. I feel like a baby in this instance because I am unsure that I am maximizing my full potential.

[1: 1,943 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 37 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 37: Sharing your life message

“Your message burns in my heart and bones, and I cannot keep silent.” – Jeremiah

I grew up knowing there is one God, about the Holy Trinity, I experienced going to a Catholic Church every Sunday, and I believe that when I pray it is heard. I did feel that God loves me so much that I even prayed for things that aren’t the best for me but He let it so I can learn from them.

The moment came that I am searching for fulfillment but I couldn’t find it anywhere else until I took the path to search for God. I watched Morgan Freeman’s documentary about God, I listened to Rob Bell’s podcast, I got myself of the book ‘A Course In Miracles’ where it gives me comfort that I’m reading Jesus directly, and then this book from Rick Warren. My life isn’t complete and meaningful without God in it and acting on it.

I am still on the process of growing and I have to consciously work to become mature in the near future. I hope I do my Christina duty to be God’s messenger that we ought to trust Him, follow Him, and He will always be there until eternity to love us.

God never made a person He didn’t love. The Bible says, “There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear.”

[1: 1,942 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 36 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 36: Made for a mission

One problem long-term Christians have is that they forget how hopeless it felt to be without Christ.

I was on a business trip to Italy this week, I was up to deliver a presentation, and I always get nervous doing that. I am nervous but I am willing to put myself into it because it’s the only way to get better. I always pray that it’ll turn out great to share a valuable message, and so far I received some claps but the glory isn’t to me but to God.

It was my first time to meet colleagues from all over the world and they found me passionate and easy to speak with my smile. I hope in my own way, I am starting to mirror kindness as it must be what Jesus would want me to do.

I have a temptation too, I can’t believe that I have a crush on a married man again, that story never ends well. I know that it is starting to become my weakness and I am very scared. I have to practice what I’ve learned, lean on Christ (Jesus help me), change my focus, and get back to choosing what’s right.

 

[1: 1,941 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 35 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 35: God’s power in your weakness

We are like fragile and flawed clay jars that store the treasures of heaven. We have weaknesses to need others because strength breeds an independent spirit, not needing anyone.

This chapter highlight being vulnerable, to be honest about my limitations because if I open others can find healing in my wounds. Okay, let’s see…

At 38 I am starting to have the inclination that I needed a man who will give me a hug and the warm fuzzy feeling because there’s no one right now to physically give me what my body needed. I sometimes sleep on the sofa and tuck myself in so it feels like am being hugged. I did not actively pursue to be in a relationship because I only focused on these things:

1. If a man can only give me financial security then I am not in need of one as I can do it myself. I know now that I can need the help to maybe build a home that is filled with love and laughter. Love and joy multiplied a thousand times more.
2. Being in a relationship with someone I know nothing of is scary and I don’t like the drama of fighting especially that in the latter part of my parents’ marriage went ugly. I don’t need to focus on the negative and be in the moment of growing into our best together.
3. I am not ready for having children out of wedlock. I was so afraid in my younger years that I won’t be able to have self-control so I bailed being intimate with anyone. I don’t like to have children because I don’t want to give them the expectation that they have to take care of me when I grow old. If I wait to be ready for anything I am not going to get a lot of things done.
4. My role model for men in my family are weak, the women were the strongest one in spirit but I am now slowly learning to appreciate men as they are. Isn’t weird that for the Me Too Movement they are concern women were undermined yet in my lifetime it was reverse.

What will I do with my relationship status? I am going to live my life with service and if the man suitable for me comes along, hold up, and then I will attract the suitable man for me and I will be entertaining.

 

[1: 1,940 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 34 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 34: Thinking like a servant

1. When we stop focusing on our own needs, we become aware of the needs around us.
2. Servants think like stewards, not owners. Servants remember that God owns it all.
3. It is not our job to defend ourselves against criticism, let your Master handle it. Focus on your work and not what others are doing.
4. Only secure people can serve because the insecure ones worry about how they appear to others.
5. Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.

I am able to cultivate being of service but I have to learn better to do it not just with the noble intentions but also delighting for the opportunity.

[1: 1,939 of 10,000] WOEAIHF? Day 33 of 42

WOEAIHF is Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?” book.

Day 33: How real servants act

This chapter is rich with business wisdom but not focused on leaders but on serving the customers.

1. We serve God by serving others with heart.
2. Real servants do what’s needed, even when it’s inconvenient.
3. Do these little things even if mundane as if they were great things because God is watching, God who is the audience of One that matters.
4. The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it need to be done?
5. Servants don’t leave a job half undone and quit when discouraged.
6. Servants are trustworthy and dependable.
7. Self-promotion and servanthood don’t mix.
8. Real servants know the difference between prominence and significance.

Why all these fuzz? Because God has promised to reward faithfulness in eternity.