what does HE want?...

there are many different ways that we can look at our future. some look at it with fear and anxiety. others look at it with excitement and anticipation. we can look at it from i will or GOD's will. now james here shows us the way to do it. james 4.15 (niv), if it is the LORD's will, we will. if HE gives me the opportunity to live another day, i will do whatever HE wants. that's the way he is telling us to live out our life. what is YOUr will GOD? that is what i will do. it is pretty straight forward and simple but not easy to do.

but what if HE wants me to ________ and you fill in the blank with whatever you would say is a foolish thing to do. of course that is something that you think is foolish. you don't have the ability to see one second out into the future, you don't really know all there is to know about yourself, your abilities, your gifts, your potential, you think you do but you don't really. you don't have any preconceived ideas whatsoever about this foolish idea. the truth is you do or you wouldn't have thought it was foolish.

now on the other side, GOD has built you with this purpose in mind. HE has something that only you can do. HE knows everything about it. HE created you for it and it for you. HE knows what it will take for you to do this what you call a foolish thing. and the truth is you are foolish if you don't do it.

and that is where we are in this matter of following either our preconceived ideas or following GOD. in whom do you put your trust?

now when you come to a GOD's will situation there are rich warren says basically three responses you can have:

1. i can make reference to it. i admit that GOD has a will and i accept it, acknowledge it, make reference to it.
2. i can show deference to it. i really want GOD's will and i accept it into my life.
3. i can show preference for it. more than anything else i want GOD's will in my life. what GOD wants – that's my plans. i deeply desire it.

now i'll be honest, i have moved clear across the united states to do what i believe GOD wants me to do. HE has placed within me a burning desire to make a difference with HIM...to make a difference in someone's life everyday, to make a difference in the area where i live and to make a difference in the world. i have moved to new york city for the last one.

now i say with HIM because i can't make a difference without HIM and i know that i have a part in there so it is with. and also if i said, i want to make a difference by myself then that would go totally against what we have been looking at here in james 4.

now I have had through out my life this burning desire to make a difference with GOD. even in retirement I can't get away from it. after my son preached yesterday i couldn't get away form it and i went forward to the altar and all i could pray with deep emotion was, i want to make a difference with YOU. i want to make a difference with YOU GOD. i say that with deep emotion right now, i want to make a difference with YOU GOD. GOD brought me to new york city to live HIS plan out in my life.

is your life filled with anything like that? our reason for existence is to do what GOD has created us to do. but we too many times give in to second class causes to live. and i pray that our time together today will make a difference in your life.

just some thoughts from the front porch...