Author: lamkhanh

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more . . . When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, ‘What is this dream you had?’” Genesis 37:5, 10 (NIV)

If you want to make it in a career, you have to respectfully show audacity. Sometimes following God’s dream for your life requires audacity too! Audacity is the courage to think big, to show initiative, and to take risks for a dream while facing the possibility of failure.

In Genesis 37, we read the story of Joseph, who had a dream so incredible—so audacious—that nobody in the world believed him. He dreamed that one day he would be a great leader and all his brothers would bow down to him.

Was it the truth? Yes. Was the dream from God? Yes. Was it fulfilled? Yes. Was Joseph a little crazy to tell his brothers? Yes.

When Joseph shared his audacious dream with his family, “they hated him all the more . . . When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, ‘What is this dream you had?’” (Genesis 37:5, 10 NIV).

Like Joseph, you’re going to have to step out in faith—even when it doesn’t make sense, even when people ridicule you, even when you’re afraid, even when the odds are against you. If God puts a dream in your heart, he will honor you when you step out in faith to do it.

When I wrote The Purpose Driven Life, the publisher told me that it was all wrong and it wouldn’t sell. Nobody reads 40 chapters; it didn’t have enough stories in it; it had too much Scripture; it was too choppy. I told them I believed this was the way I had been directed by God to do it, and they didn’t have to publish it.

I held the line, and they said they still wanted to publish it. Don’t you think they’re glad they did? Sometimes you just need a little bit of audacity because you believe in what God has told you to do.

Joseph made one audacious decision after another in faith. As a result, he got the promotion of a lifetime—he eventually became a great leader and ruled over all of Egypt.

Where do you need to be audacious? Where do you need to trust God? Maybe you need to take the initiative to step out in faith, think big, or take a risk. When you’re following God’s dream, you can know he will honor the big steps you take in faith.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.” Galatians 6:9 (TLB)

If things don’t happen right away or when you think they should, that doesn’t mean you should quit. You need to be diligent and develop endurance.

The Bible says, “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (Galatians 6:9 TLB).

Is there something you feel like giving up on? Maybe it’s your marriage; it seems like it’s dead and going nowhere. Maybe it’s your career; you’ve tried and tried and tried to make a difference, and it just isn’t happening. Maybe you feel like giving up on a dream or a goal—or even yourself.

Here’s an important thing to know. A thousand years before you were born, God knew that you would be reading this today, so God could have me say this to you as a friend: Don’t give up.

The tunnel may seem extremely dark right now, but there is always a light at the end. It may be just around the corner! You are known by God, loved by God—and you have a purpose that God designed you uniquely to fulfill.

Don’t think what you’re doing doesn’t matter. Don’t give up on doing the right thing. Don’t think anyone would be better off without you. Those are lies from the mouth of the Devil himself. Remember what God has said about you. Remember that he wants to bless you.

Don’t give up. Look up to God. Find a spiritual family—a church and a small group—to help you through the tough times. Meditate on God’s Word for encouragement.

Most of all, don’t give up on God. He will never give up on you!

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success.”  Proverbs 3:5-6 (NCV)

The root of all indecision is fear. We all struggle with different kinds of fears. We’re afraid we’ll make mistakes and embarrass ourselves. We’re afraid we won’t be able to finish what we’ve started. We’re afraid we’re not good enough.

One of the fears that keeps us from making decisions is the fear of disapproval. Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety” (TLB). The moment you start worrying about what other people think, it’s over, because fear of disapproval is always worse than disapproval.

So how do you get rid of a particular fear? There’s only one way: Face it, and move against it. You do the thing you fear the most!

But how do you make that move? In faith. The only antidote to fear is faith. You have to step out in faith. You’ve got to trust God and start moving.

In every major decision we had to make as Saddleback Church grew, I was scared. But I moved forward anyway.

Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is moving ahead in spite of your fear. If you’re not afraid, you don’t need courage. Courage comes because you’re scared to death but you also are sure of what God wants you to do, so you do it anyway.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success” (NCV).

God supports those who move in faith. So here’s the question you need to ask: Where do you need to trust God? You haven’t truly trusted him until you’ve attempted something you can’t do on your own power.

I don’t know what decision you need to make, but you need to prepare for it and then step out in faith. Why? Because your choices determine your character and your destiny. Commit yourself to the Lord, and he will give you the wisdom and courage to make the decision that will bring you closer to who he made you to be.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Before You Commit, How Do You Count the Cost.” Proverbs 20:25 (TLB)

When you have a major decision to make, the Bible says you need to count the cost: “It is foolish and rash to make a promise to the Lord before counting the cost” (Proverbs 20:25 TLB).

Every decision has a price tag. You have to ask yourself what your decision will cost in four areas: time, money, energy, and relationships.

I am basically giving you permission to tell people, “I’ll get back to you.” It’s okay to ponder and count the cost. Don’t be pressured, because there is a law of life that Proverbs and Ecclesiastes teach: It’s always easier to get in than get out.

It’s easier to get in debt than out of debt. It’s easier to get into a relationship than out of a relationship. It’s easier to fill your schedule than to fulfill your schedule. It’s always easier to get in than get out.

Luke 14:28-29 says, “If you want to build a tower, you first sit down and decide how much it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don’t, you might lay the foundation, but you would not be able to finish. Then all who would see it would make fun of you” (NCV).

Before I started Saddleback Church, I had to count the cost to me in terms of time, money, energy, and my family.

I knew there would be sacrifices that had to be made in the startup, so I asked myself, “Is it worth it?” Oh, yeah—it’s worth it! Knowing that thousands of people are going to be in heaven for eternity through the ministry of Saddleback Church makes it all worth it.

So here’s the question you need to ask when you’re making a major decision: Is it worth it? Make sure you count the cost before you commit.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest.”  Proverbs 2:6-7 (GNT)

Are you facing a tough decision about what to do in your job or career? Fortunately, the wealthiest businessman who ever lived also wrote two books of the Bible—Proverbs and Ecclesiastes—and spread his wisdom about wealth and work.

Solomon’s wisdom in Proverbs offers three first steps that apply to any kind of major decision you need to make. So what are those three steps to get you started?

First, check the Bible.

Before you get anybody else’s perspective on what you’re going to do, you need to go to God’s Word and get his perspective. The Bible says in Proverbs 2:6-7, “It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest” (GNT).

Next, get the facts.

Proverbs 18:13 says, “What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!” (TLB). Before I started Saddleback Church, I spent six months getting the facts. I read everything in print on church growth before I even moved to Orange County. Then I studied demographics and census statistics, and I discovered that between 1970 and 1980, Orange County was the fastest-growing county in America, and the Saddleback Valley was the fastest-growing area in Orange County. I thought, “They’re probably going to need some new churches!” I wanted to minister where I knew there was going to be a need—and through research I discovered that need and how to address it.

Then, ask for advice.

You need to talk to people who’ve made a similar decision and also to people who know how God has shaped you. Ask them, “Am I shaped to do this or not? Does God seem to be leading me in this direction?

Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without advice plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed” (GW).

One of the reasons we don’t want to ask for advice is we don’t want to admit that we don’t know all the answers. But humility and wisdom go together. When you are prideful and think you know it all, you are more likely to fail.

To make a wise decision and be successful, you need to first check the Bible, then research the facts, and finally ask advice from people who have experience and know the way you’ve been shaped.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”  Mark 12:30 (NLT)

One way to look at today’s verse is to focus on loving God with all your talk, all your feelings, all your thinking, and all your behavior. God shaped you to be primarily a talker, a feeler, a thinker, or a doer.

In Mark 12:30, the Bible says, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (NLT).

Talkers love God with their hearts. Feelers love God with their souls. Doers love God with their strength—their bodies.

Did you know you can also love God with your intellect? Thinkers love God with their minds. When you’re developing and strengthening your mind, it is an act of worship.

Thinkers love Bible study. Psalm 119:97 says, “How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long” (CSB).

People who are thinkers fall in love with the Bible when they become believers. There is no other book in the world like it! It has the answers to life’s questions, including: Why am I here? Where am I going? What is the purpose of life? Does my life matter? What’s the past? What’s the future? Where did I come from?

We need thinkers because the world needs consideration. Somebody has to be thinking through complex issues and the implications of what the rest of us are doing. We need people who think through tough problems and then bring solutions to the table. That’s why we need scientists, writers, philosophers, and innovators.

But thinkers have to be careful to practice humility. The Bible says, “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom” (Proverbs 3:7 NLT). Why? Because God is God, and you are not.

Humility is a choice. Not once in the Bible are you told to pray for God to humble you. Instead, you’re told to “humble yourself before the Lord” (James 4:10 ICB). It’s a choice. Humility is something you do to yourself. Nobody else can do it to you. Other people can humiliate you, but they can’t make you humble. In essence, humility is total dependence on God. It’s not denying your strengths; instead, it’s being honest about your weaknesses.

Thinkers also need to be careful to practice what they know. If you know it, then do it! James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (NIV).

Whether God has made you to be a talker, a feeler, a thinker, or a doer, you can rely on his Word as your manual for life. He created you, and he knows the best way for you to live. That’s why he wants you to do things his way! You can trust him!

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be blessed.” Luke 12:43 (NCV)

All of us have unused abilities. But there are three ways that you can start cultivating your abilities so they are being used for good and for God’s glory.

1. Estimate your abilities.

Do an assessment of your life. Do an audit of your abilities. What are you good at? Make a list. If there’s one thing I could say to young people today to prepare for their future, this is it: Know your strengths. Know your weaknesses. Consider the capabilities God has given you.

Parents, help your kids understand their SHAPE—their Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. Your children have far more abilities than they think.

2. Dedicate your abilities.

Commit your abilities to God for the use he intended. Romans 12:1 says, “Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him” (GNT). Say, “God, you gave me these abilities. Now I’m going to give them back to you. I want to use them for the purpose for which you gave them to me.”

3. Cultivate your abilities.

That means to practice, improve, sharpen, and develop. Any ability God gave you can be increased with use. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 10:10, “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success” (NIV).

How do you get skills? Practice. God says you need to sharpen your ax. A dull ax takes more energy. He says to work smarter, not harder. Sharpening your abilities—your aptitudes, your skills—is a spiritual responsibility.

God invested enormously in you. First, he created you. Second, he shaped you with spiritual gifts and personality. Then he sent Jesus to die for you. God made an incredible investment in your life! And one day he’s going to ask you, “What did you do with what you were given? How did you use your abilities to honor me, to serve others, to make a living, and to be an example? How did you use them to help other people?”

In Luke 12:43, Jesus said, “When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be blessed” (NCV). I want you to have that blessing. I want God to find you using your abilities in the ways that he intended.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Look, I’m standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I’ll come in and we’ll eat together.”  Revelation 3:20 (GW)

God gave you a heart, and in your heart he placed 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.

All around the world, millions of passionate people have interests, dreams, and ambitions that are being misused and abused. And it breaks God’s heart. In spite of their talent and their passion, these people are unhappy—because when your passions are misused, it makes you miserable.

Some of you might be thinking, “I’m not really passionate about anything right now.” You know what that means, right? It means you are disconnected from God. You cannot be connected to God and dispassionate. When you are plugged into God, it’s like plugging into 220 volts. You get passionate!

God is a passionate God. The only reason you have emotions is because you’re made in his image. God is emotional. God gets jealous when he sees you ignoring him for something else. God has loved you with an everlasting love; no matter what you’ve done, he will always love you. That’s passion!

When you spend time with God daily and you get plugged into him, you can’t help but be passionate. You start to develop God’s heart for the world. You start to feel the way he does. Who you hang out with really does make a difference.

I can prove it with any teenager. Put a teenage kid with a group of dispassionate kids who are apathetic about everything, and that kid will become apathetic within a matter of weeks. Why? It matters who you spend your time with.

Would you like to have more energy in life? More enthusiasm? More get-up-and-go? Let me tell you where to get it. The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek words en theos—en meaning “in” and theos meaning “God.” When you get en theos—“in God”—you’re going to be enthusiastic. The closer you get to God, the more energy, vitality, and passion you will have in life. The further away you get, the more bored and apathetic you’ll become. You’ve got to open your heart to Jesus.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Look, I’m standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I’ll come in and we’ll eat together” (GW). If you’re not a believer—or if you’re a Christian who’s wandered away from God—Jesus Christ is standing and knocking at the door of your life. But he’s a gentleman. He’s not going to bust the door down. You’ve got to open it up.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (GW)

When you know who God has shaped you to be, then you know who you ought to be, and you can start focusing on how to make better use of your life.

The moment you step across the line spiritually and begin following Jesus, you say, “I’m going to go God’s way, not my own way. I’m going to let him direct my life. I want to follow God’s purpose, not my purpose. I’m going to do what I was wired and made to do.”

When you take that step, God also gives you four major gifts:

Forgiveness — Romans 5:15 says, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ” (NLT). The first thing Jesus does is to wipe out everything you’ve ever done wrong. It’s all forgiven! There is no condemnation.

Eternal life — God has long-range plans for you. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV). You’re never going to work your way or earn your way into heaven. The only way you’ll ever get into heaven is by God’s free gift that you accept by faith.

The Holy Spirit — Romans 5:5 says God “has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (NLT). How do you know when you’re letting God live through your life? When you embody the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Special abilities — In the Bible, these special abilities are called spiritual gifts, which makes them different from material or physical gifts. Most people who are believers don’t even know they’ve got spiritual gifts, much less what they are. But you have them!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person” (GW).

What is a spiritual gift? God has a purpose for your life, and your spiritual gifts are the equipment he gives you to do what he asks you to do. God will never ask you to do something he doesn’t give you the ability to do. God gives you your spiritual gifts the moment you accept Christ. You don’t get to choose your gifts, and you don’t earn your gifts.

Your gifts also are not for your benefit. Your spiritual gifts allow you to help other people. And other people can use their gifts to help you.

When I use my spiritual gift of teaching, you get blessed. When you use your spiritual gift, the people in your church get blessed. It’s like a puzzle. If one jigsaw piece is missing, what’s the first thing you notice? The one missing piece. When we develop and use our spiritual gifts, we all get blessed.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Matthew 6:20 (NIV)

No matter what you do for a living, you can use your workplace to further God’s Kingdom by using your business contacts to spread the Gospel and bring glory to God.

I once got a call from a German man who was the president and CEO of a major international sports apparel company. He said that he had just read The Purpose Driven Life and that it changed his life. He told me, “I’ve read this book, and I am now a Christian. I just need to know one thing: Should I resign as CEO of my company and become a pastor?”

I said, “No way! Let me show you how to use your job for the Kingdom, how to be a Kingdom builder and not just a wealth builder. Do you have an executive team?”

He said that, yes, there were six of them, and two of them were also Christians. I said, “Start meeting with those two and praying for the other three. Your first ministry is to win your three coworkers to Christ. How many employees do you have at your company?”

He said they had about 25,000. I responded, “That’s called a megachurch! You’ve got 25,000 members in your congregation. Start praying for them. Be available to them. Establish good Christian principles in your business.

“Do you want to influence other CEOs? Then you need to stay a CEO because you’ll have far more influence on them as a CEO than as a pastor or missionary.

“Would you like to influence culture? When you do celebrity endorsements with pro athletes, sit them down and tell them that you’re not just their sponsor; you are their friend. Give them your business card and tell them to call you whenever they have a need.”

In today’s global economy, the new missionaries are businessmen and businesswomen. Many countries won’t let a pastor or missionary in, but they’ll gladly welcome your business.

When you use your business for the one thing that’s going to outlast everything else—the Kingdom of God—you are being a Kingdom builder and not just a wealth builder.

There is nothing wrong with using your work to build wealth. But Jesus said in Matthew 6:20, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (NIV). The only way you can invest in heaven is to invest in people who are going there. When your work points people to God, you are storing up treasure in heaven to use for eternity and you’re advancing God’s Kingdom!