Day 16: What Matters Most.

So I'm reading this book right by Rick Warren titled "The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" There's something about this book that has been life-changing for me, and i'm not even halfway-through it!

[The reason for that is that it's split into 40 (forty!) short chapters, and you only read one every day: after all, there's only so much you can absorb in one day.]

Today's chapter is "Day 16: What Matters Most." I've wanted to blog about what i've been learning from this book for the past couple weeks, especially within the last 3-4 days, but today... Today's reading was just too awesome for me not to share about it. I'll try not to type out the whole chapter. Just remember that these quotes in no way fully represent the learning of 16 days.

["quotes" and {paraphrases}]

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"LIFE IS ALL ABOUT LOVE."
{We're given a lifetime to learn to love because it runs counter to our self-centered nature.}
"...God wants us to love everyone, but he is particularly concerned that we learn to love others in his family." ... 'When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.' [Galatians 6:10 (NCV)]

"Why does God insist that we give special love and attention to other believers? Why do they get priority in loving? Because God wants his family to be known for its love more than anything else. Jesus said our love for each other -- not our doctrinal beliefs -- is our greatest witness to the world. He said, "Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." [John 13:35(LB)]

"THE BEST USE OF LIFE IS LOVE."
"Life without love is really worthless."
"Four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to God, while the oher six deal wihth our relationships with people. But all ten are about relationships!"
"Busyness is a great enemy of relationships. We become preoccupied with making a living, doing our work, paying bills, and accomplishing goals as if these tasks are the point of life. They are not. The point of live is learning to love -- God and people. Life minus love equals zero.

"Love will last forever."
"In out final moments, we all realize that relationships are what life is all about.
Wisdom is learning that truth sooner rather than later."

"We will be evaluated on our love."
"In heaven, God won't say, 'Tell me about your career, your bank account, and your hobbies.'
Instead, he will review how you treated other people, paritcularly those in need. [Matthew 29:34-46]"
"When you transfer into eternity ({when you die}), you will leave everything else behind.
All you're taking with you is your character."
"Why should God give you another day if you're going to waste it?"

"THE BEST EXPRESSION OF LOVE IS TIME."
"Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it....When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of you life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life."
It's not enought just to say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them. Words alone are worthless. 'My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.' [Galatians 5:6 (NIV)]"
"Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is "T-I-M-E."
{The most desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolate, but focused attention.}
"Love concentrates so intently on another that you forget yourself at that moment."
"Whenever you give your time, you are making a sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of love."
"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving."

"THE BEST TIME TO LOVE IS NOW."
{...you don't know how long you will have the opportunity to express love.}
"Circumstances change. People die. Children grow up. You have no guaranteee of tomorrow."

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"The best use of life is love.
The best expression of love is time.
The best time to love is now."