\'So whether you eat or drink, or"); document.writeln("whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.\'1
"); document.writeln("Christopher Parkening is regarded as the world\'s"); document.writeln("greatest classical guitarist. He has played guitar with orchestras around the world"); document.writeln("and has even played for several presidents in the White House. In addition to"); document.writeln("being a great musician, he is also a world-class fly-fishing champion.
"); document.writeln("By"); document.writeln("his own testimony, he writes, \"By age 30, I\'d achieved all my dreams in"); document.writeln("the musical world, but I was tired of hotel rooms, performances and recording"); document.writeln("sessions. It was time to go fishing, so with the money I had earned, I found my"); document.writeln("dream stream on a ranch in Montana. I bought the ranch, called my management"); document.writeln("group at Colombia, and told them I had no desire to play anymore. I had earned"); document.writeln("enough money that I didn\'t need to work anyway."); document.writeln("
"); document.writeln("\"For"); document.writeln("several years, I did what I wanted, but as time went by, my life became emptier."); document.writeln("I found out that when you have everything you thought would make you happy, and"); document.writeln("it doesn\'t\'“ you start asking questions like: What\'s missing?"); document.writeln("
"); document.writeln("\"While"); document.writeln("in California visiting friends, I attended a church where I heard a sermon"); document.writeln("entitled, \"Examine yourself whether you are in the faith.\" The"); document.writeln("preacher said that you could know all about Christ, the Bible, even pray to"); document.writeln("God, and Jesus could still say, \'Depart from me, you worker of iniquity, I"); document.writeln("never knew you.\' I was convinced if I had died that night, Jesus would have spoken"); document.writeln("those words to me.
"); document.writeln("\"So,"); document.writeln("I walked down the aisle, surrendered my life to Christ, and was baptized. I"); document.writeln("read the Bible when I was a kid, but I never wanted a Lord to obey"); document.writeln("unconditionally. I went home that day broken over my selfish ways."); document.writeln("
"); document.writeln("\"That"); document.writeln("night, I couldn\'t sleep, so I got up and started reading the Bible. Soon I came"); document.writeln("across 1 Corinthians 10:31 that said, \"Whatever you do, do it"); document.writeln("all for the glory of God.\" I realized there were only two things I knew"); document.writeln("how to do: fly fish and play guitar. I am playing the guitar today for God\'s"); document.writeln("glory, and that\'s what I tell my students at Pepperdine, where I teach. I now"); document.writeln("have peace and joy unspeakable that I never had before. My life has purpose and"); document.writeln("I\'ve learned the true secret of genuine happiness!\'2 "); document.writeln("
Happiness is not about what we"); document.writeln("possess, but rather what we give. The gifts God has given us are not meant only"); document.writeln("to bring us satisfaction, but rather to be a blessing to others. When we share"); document.writeln("what God has given us and seek to bring him glory, we are fulfilling His"); document.writeln("purpose for our lives, and this produces true happiness.
"); document.writeln("Suggested prayer: Thank you, Lord, for"); document.writeln("the gifts you have blessed me with. Whether they are in the form of talents or"); document.writeln("material possessions, I ask that you show me ways to bless others with them,"); document.writeln("and in doing so, bring honor and glory to you. My desire is to fulfill Your"); document.writeln("purpose for me and find true happiness that comes from you.
"); document.writeln("1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT).
www.sermoncentral.com"); document.writeln("
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Today\'s Encounter was written by:"); document.writeln("Crystal B.
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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.
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