“Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you’re ALIVE, it isn’t.” ~ Richard Bach

Being Alive…

What does it mean to feel fully alive?

Incredible sense of passion and purpose?

An extraordinary sense of mission and direction?

Unstoppable physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual strength?

All of the above? No question!

If God wants us fully alive, and He does, what would this look like in our daily lives?

When we were creating The Believer’s Guide, we asked this question from a slightly different perspective, “What does it take to become fully ALIVE, in the truest sense?”

We answered this question simply and forthrightly. Becoming fully ALIVE means putting ourselves to the test each day… to become everything God created us to be.

To actually WIN our 5 most important missions in life… not just go through the motions each day enduring life… but truly experiencing all that life offers.

Hence the cover image, where we put Christ at the center of our most important, truly GOLDEN Circles in life… circles that embrace everything we will ever be, do or have in life. Circles representing the eternal struggle — endless really — for us to become the success God truly expects us to be.

Ultimately, these are the 5 most important MISSIONS we must WIN to become the best person possible. Fail to win them, and we are less than our potential. Win them, and we experience the full promise of God’s grace shining on our lives.

These 5 Golden Circles overlap in infinite ways. They grow and contract with each beat of our heart. Endless possibilities. Endless potential. All released to the Glory of our heavenly maker.

Please take a few moments to consider the circumference of your Golden Circles… the distance around each circle.

Think about the diameter of your Golden Circles… the distance across each circle.

Think about the area within each of your Golden Circles… as this depicts your capacity to Love, Serve and Glorify Him through your thoughts and deeds.

Are they all-encompasing… all-consuming… and truly BIGGER than life? Or are they small and shrinking… barely little dots on the page?

Are they all about the same size? Are some really BIG and others really PUNY?

Visualize your 5 Golden Circles and respond with your heart.

Think About Your Faith Circle…

When believers commit to achieving a clearly identified Faith Mission, they become inspired to seek God’s help as they actively participate in a dedicated practice of study, prayer, meditation and/or spiritual service. This commitment to an on-going spiritual practice leads to an ever-growing, stronger and more personal connection to God. Faiths are strengthened. Hearts are healed. Visions become clear. Questions are answered. Lives are saved.

Is your Faith Circle large and growing? ____________ Is Christ really at the center of this Circle? Or are you trying to go it alone and pray for the best? ___

Think About Your Personal Growth Circle…

When believers commit to achieving a clearly identified Personal Mission, they become inspired to do and be the best they can be. As a faithful servant, they will constantly choose to make the best use of every talent and skill given to them by God and learn how to expand their personal ability to succeed in making a greater difference in their own life and the lives of all they touch. They become more energetic, optimistic, courageous, engaged, proactive and productive as they are constantly growing to fulfill the true potential that God created them to be.

Is your Personal Growth Circle large and growing? ____________ Is Christ really at the center of this Circle? Or are you trying to go it alone and pray for the best? ___

Think About Your Relationships Circle…

When believers commit to achieving clearly identified Relationship Missions, they dead-stop being critical and hurtful and instead, asking what would Jesus do, they focus all their time and energy on giving unconditional love and support to their spouse, their family and friends.  Love is expressed. Relationships are healed. Marriages flourish. Families pull together. Children grow up in circle of love. Christ smiles on His followers as they attempt to follow his lead.

Is your Relationship Circle large and growing? ____________ Is Christ really at the center of this Circle? Or are you trying to go it alone and pray for the best? ___

Think About Your Discipleship/Community Circle…

When believers commit to achieving a clearly identified Church/Community Mission, they eagerly take on a role where they can make the greatest contribution to something or someone other than themselves. Knowing that God has already promised to take care of all their needs, they feel free to spend their time and efforts helping others who need physical, emotional or spiritual help. People are served. The hungry are fed. The hurt are healed. The poor are protected. The church naturally expands. Needs are met in an expression of God’s unlimited love for all.

Is your Discipleship Circle large and growing? ____________ Is Christ really at the center of this Circle? Or are you trying to go it alone and pray for the best? ___

Think About Your Career/Financial Circle…

When believers commit to achieving a clearly identified Career Mission, they focus on what they can do and not what they can’t. With God’s help, they turn their job into a living example of how a practicing Christian can provide a product or service at the highest level of quality and expertise. They find personal fulfillment in their service and an abundance of rewards, both emotionally and financially. They gain all the financial resources necessary to help them achieve all of their other missions successfully for God’s glory.  Money, investments and wealth becomes an opportunity for good, a means to love, serve and glorify Him.

Is your Career Circle large and growing? ____________ Is Christ really at the center of this Circle? Or are you trying to go it alone and pray for the best? ___

Have You Truly Put Christ at The Center of Each Circle?

God is willing to help and bless us in all ways, in all five circles, if we will engage in these activities and ask for His help and grace.

The principle is the more we will do, exercising our faith in Jesus Christ, the more He can and will do for us.

This is the ultimate partnership and work of salvation for our own souls and others. However it does not just happen. It requires our sincere involvement to what we commit to and what we actually do.

The great blessing is that when we do what we say, being both a person of faith and faithful in our actions, He blesses us all the more to expand our circles, grow in our discipleship, and faith in Christ.

We are not alone.

He is with us.

We simply must be with Him and do our part and then we will naturally become more alive in Hi… in all things and in all ways.

So, be honest.

So much of being alive is living in the ATTITUDE of Gratitude.

As Christians, we have much to be grateful for, not the least of which is our belief that Jesus died not only for our sins… but to give us Victory in life.

He did his part.

God did his part by creating you.

You must now do your part and become the best YOU possible… the success God expects from you.

It is not the end game where you feel ALIVE.

It is the day by day journey of a life well lived.

A life spent in pursuit of your FAITH… with the expectation of winning that mission.

A life spent in pursuit of your personal GROWTH… with the expectation of winning that mission.

A life spent in pursuit of your personal RELATIONSHIPS…with the expectation of winning that mission.

A life spent in pursuit of  DISCIPLESHIP… with the expectation of winning that mission.

A life spent in pursuit of a CAREER that is both, emotionally and financially rewarding… with the expectation of winning that mission.

This is what being ALIVE means.

Not just focusing on 1 or 2 of your Golden Circles — but all 5.

Imagine YOU, each day becoming all that God created you to be.

Imagine YOU, each day becoming the success God expects from you.

If that doesn’t make you feel ALIVE, what will?

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PS If any of what I have just said resonates with you, take the next step. If you have yet to put Christ at the center of each of your Golden Circles, take the next step. If you want to feel ALIVE but don’t, take the next step. Pick up The Believer’s Guide and let it guide you to a life filled with passion and purpose.