Reflections on God: The Blazing Center

Over the summer months in our midweek ministry meeting, we watched John Piper's video series God: the Blazing Center. Here are some reflections and prayers that I took away from this time. I pray God that He may make me be more devoted to pursuing my pleasure in God for the joy of all people!

1. God is really passionate about his glory. God is radically God-centered. He is really serious about His glory. He is the most God-centered being in the universe.
   
2. God's love has not been lifted when we walk through times of suffering.
3. It is more loving for God to show His glory thorugh suffering than to heal at times.
   
4. We are to be telescopes magnifying the glory of God to men on earth.
5. Love is doing whatever you have to do at great cost to yourself so that others will be satisfied eternally with whatever will satisfy them eternally. Love is doing what you do to entrhall others forever.
6. God's best gift to us is Himself.
7. Until you feel and think that God is the goal, the central reality, the supreme joy in the universe, you will distort the gospel into a man-centered focus.
8. We were not made for mirrors
9. We are to make Jesus look really good even in our deaths. Think about how you will do this.
10. Death is gain when Christ is treasured.
11. Christ is most glorified in my dying when I am most satisfied with Christ in my living and dying.
12. I must think of ways to demonstrate that God is uppermost in my affections.
13. God command us to be happy and pursue our joy and he threatens terrible things if we will not be satisfied in him.
14. Faith is coming to God to have all your needs met! Faith is trusting that God will be all that you need. You get the help, he gets the glory.
    
15. Evil is turning away from joy and embracing frustration
16. To be a Christian is to have Christ as your supreme treasure (Matthew 13:44)
17. There is no ultimate self-denial. We are to deny lesser pleasures for the superior pleasure of Christ.
18. You cannot be a loving person unless you are pursuing you unless you rigorously pursue your joy in God.
    
19. Love is the overflow of abundant joy in God that meets the needs of others.
20. The great battle for becoming a loving person is to pursue your joy in God. Joy is not the icing on the cake; it is the heart of love.
    
21. Lord, unleash your love on us so that we can unleash our love on others!
22. Lord, cause this church to overflow with joy!
23. Get outside your comfort zone! That is true love!
24. For love's sake, say no to pornography and lust! Fight with a superior pleasure: Christ! The battle can be won!
    
25. Do something radical for the poor!
26. Joy sustains us in suffering (Hebrews 10:32-34; 11:24-26; 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:12-13)
27. Ask myself: Am I asking God to make Christ such a treasure that whatever comes into my life I will endure to the end in faith.
    
28. Lord, teach me to glut myself on true pleasure in Christ
29. Lord, wean me from worldly pleasurs.
    
30. Suffering is not only the price you will pay in the pathway of obedience sustained by joy in God, suffering is also designed by God to intensify your joy in Him.
31. Lord, let me be on the edge for the cause of Christ!
    
32. "Being cool" is living for a cause and something infinitely more valuable than fighting for your country's freedom. Lord, I pray for "cool" teenagers!"
    
33. I have never heard anyone say, "I have really gone deep with God in the easy days of my life."
    
34. Oh, how we love the sovereignty of God!
35. God has given us the privilege of rescuing people for eternal joy!