I Dare You

I Dare you - or Embrace Life with a Passion by Joyce Meyer is electrifying. It shows you how to determine your purposeand discover the passion to fuel it. This book has two definite parts to it.

Part 0ne - covers "The complements of Passion and Purpose"

Part Two -covers "The Pursuit of Passion with Purpose"

In the introduction to the book Joyce talks of 'Passionate Pursuits' and has a quote from William Booth 'God loves with a great love the man who is bursting with passion for the IMPOSSIBLE.'

Many people today talk about purpose today. Its is an important part of life knowing and understanding our purpose and it is also essential to knowing and understanding what is God's purpose for us. When we understand what ourpurpose is then we have a road map to follow to get us to the end of that journey. However if the purpose is our journey and destination, the passion is the fuel that keeps us going! Because we all need a reason to get up each day and face the days work. we need something to give us the spark that gets us up and going. We all have routines but surely there has to be a purpose to that routine, rather than the money to pay the bills at the end of each month. If we have the attitude that says 'got to get up,go to work, take kids to school, do shopping etc and have no interest or enthusiasm then we pass that on to our children that life is a bore'

Over the years many have asked "Why I am I here?" "What is my purpose?" There is a simple answer but not all are willing to accept it. We are here to enjoy God and do His will. We were created for His pleasure. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Therefore he must be everything in between. This is something that Paul thought about every day. Look at how many times he uses these words:-

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me (Romans Ch 15. v18 New International Version)

But what ever I am now, it is all because God poured out His special favour on me -and not without results. For I have worked harder than all the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace. (1 Corintians Ch. 15 v.10 New Living Translation)

We are born, we live, we die we cannot do anything about this but we can with the strength and the power of God who dares us to embrace His power and His purpose. We have to take resposnsibility for our own lives but with courage and support of God who gives us a reason to go on we can do all things if we accept we need His help to give us the courage and the determination to carry on a purposeful life.

Many people when talking of passion think of sex or bursts of emotions that come and go. They see passion as unstable, maybe unsatisfying and even unnecessary and as a result they typically respond to life and signs of enthusiasm this way... 'Whats the sence in getting worked up over this' Lets just take one day at a time' or 'I don't let things get to me in that way'. Therefore when we risk less we care less you have to have passion and a purpose.

So Joyce goes on then through her book in Part One by looking at the following: Where passion and Purpose start. Understanding Why You Do What You Do, Putting Smiles onFaces, Purposelessness, With Your Whole Heart, Misplaced Passion, Eight Ways to Waste Your Time, Dream Big Dreams, and Take Responsibility. There are some very good suggestions in each of the topics - but I think the one that caught my eye the most was 'Dream Big Dreams' - and expect them to happen - well we did this with this webpage we dreamt our dream and God provided the people to help us to do it.

So to Part Two of the book the sections take on the following parts. 'Keep Yourself Stirred Up, Passion for Your Spirit, Passion for Your Mind, Passion for Your Emotions, Passion for Your Finances, Get Physical, Never Give Up, and Be determined.

This book also has opened my eyes to bigger and better ways to live in todays world. Joyce you have definately learnt so much,and I guess you would still say you are learning even today. You have overcome so much that I know your books are Spirit lead and I hope one day to put all your suggestions into practice.