“Define your Vision.
Pursue your Passion.
Live your Life on Purpose.” Craig Groeschel, Chazown
One of my greatest desires is to live my life intentionally. We never know how many days we have left on this earth and I want to do my best to live with purpose in the way I follow Christ, the way I love and serve my family, the way I encourage and hold my friends accountable, and the way I serve the teachers, students, and families I have the privilege of working with at NCCS. Craig Groeschel has done a great job with helping his readers understand what it means to pursue a God-sized vision for their lives…to embrace His chazown for their life. This book is a super quick read as it is written from a very conversational perspective. I highlighted several things while reading and have posted them below…
- Everyone ends up somewhere. But few people end up somewhere on purpose.
- “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10
- “Where there is no vision, the people parish.” Proverbs 29:18
- The word vision comes from the Hebrew word chazown.
- “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the gas the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24
- Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams have become true because we dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord. Sir Francis Drake
- Setbacks are often setups for God to act.
- What you cherish at your core is what you aim at with your life.
- The difference between the truth that you know and the truth that you live equals the pain that you experience.
- What do you do that has significant impact on others?
- Ask God for guidance and then start dreaming.
- If money were no object and I could do anything I wanted for the rest of my life, what would I do?
- Besides loving, caring for, and ministering to those who are most important to me, what is the number one thing that I believe God wants to accomplish through me?
- “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 12:15
- I refuse to sacrifice God’s chazown for anyone else’s.
- “Those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:22-23
- Too many goals drown in a sea of good intentions.
- “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28
- “Your faith is growing more and more, the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3
- “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1
- “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord.” Psalm 24:4-5
- Where there is no vision for our relationships with people, those relationships will wither and perish.
- “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17-18
- “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'” 1 Corinthians 15:33
- If you are not willing to do what they did, you won’t be able to do what they’re doing now.
- Every body ends up somewhere. But few bodies end up somewhere on purpose.
- Decide to do something today to honor God with your body.
- Where there is no vision for your work life, you will mostly work at wasting time.
- “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23
- Accountability closes the gap between intentions and actions.