Finding the Balance Ways to be Successful
I was reading through some stuff the other day and came across some great tips I want to pass along to you... Finding Balance in your life, some of these tips will make sense.
#1 - OBSERVE THE SABBATH
Take a day and rest. This isn't just a suggestion, Sabbath observance is the fourth commandment. Go to church enjoy God's presence, don't make it a chore or like work where you clock in and then clock out.
#2 - UNPLUG FROM TECHNOLOGY
EPIK you have heard me talk about this alot. Don't make this a bondage thing... you can live without your technology for a while. Remember distance yourself from the noise of the world for a little bit and focus on God and allow God to speak to you. We can't hear God if there are other noises drowning out His voice.
#3 - GET A HOBBY
Take up knitting... just kidding, unless you like that kind of stuff. Work out, ride bike, take a walk, graphic design, video editing something that fuels your passions and doesn't seem like work to you. Volunteer somewhere. Meet new people. Share your love and passion for God with others.
#4 - HAVE BOUNDARIES / STANDARDS / SO BE IT ISSUES
You don't need to impress everyone. What are your "So Be It" issues in your life that you won't compromise. You won't bow down to when everyone else is bowing down. How will people see Christ in you? How will you be different.
#5 - STOP PROCRASTINATING
You only have this minute in your life once. You only have this day in your life once. You only have this week in your life once. You only have this month in your life once and yes you only have this year in your life once. What are you going to do with the time God has Blessed you with. Yes I said blessed you with. No one knows the time or the hour. We don't know when our life could be done. What do you do every day? How long do we watch TV, How long do we surf the net, how long do we spend looking at our cell phone waiting for it to ring or be texted by someone? What are you putting off until tomorrow that could be done today? Have you spent time with God today? What did His word say?
#6 - PUT YOUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER
What are your priorities and in what order do you place them?
Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 to "trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all of your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight". Put God first in all you do... All you do and you won't go wrong. Remember ladies you have heard me say it and I will say it again that if that guy you are with does not love God more than you, your relationship is doomed and won't be blessed, and guys that goes the same way around.
#7 - SEEK COUNCIL
Don't go about things alone. Pray about decisions you need to make. Seek wise council as well. You are not meant to be an island on your own. Seek a trusted friend and adviser, a pastor or someone you look up to. A word of advice, make sure this person loves God with all of their heart. If they do, they are going to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
#8 - CREATE A BUDGET
What? Budget? What do you mean? I will tell you! Are you tithing? Are you giving to Missions [Speed The Light]? Are you spending wisely or foolishly? The Bible talks much about money cause money is important and if you don't know what you are doing, you will get yourself into trouble... seek advise on this as well. Priorities are important on this issue as well.
#9 - GET PERSPECTIVE
Sometimes it's hard to examine ourselves to find areas of fault or weakness, and denial is one of the key factors that stops people from identifying and then dealing with their issues. This goes along with Seek Council... have people who can speak into your life and again tell you what you need to hear, not what you want. A few minutes of honest dialogue may seem uncomfortable, but it will give you a valuable outside view of your life and help you in bettering it.
#10 - READ THE BIBLE / PRAY / SPEND TIME WITH GOD DAILY
Saving the best for last but this should be first... In the Senior high we give out red cards and that has a key verse to memorize for each week and a Bible reading plan. I am proud of all of you who are putting God's word to memory and living it out. Too often we let other things take priority in our life and become idols, to which we sacrifice relationships and time with God. Taking time to study God's Word, to pray and to be in fellowship with other believers helps put our focus on God and to put all other things in their proper place as important parts of our lives but not the reason to live. God should be first in all we say and do.
I am proud of all of you and work on some of these tips as I am. Remember you are either growing daily or dieing gradually and as for me, I refuse to die gradually.
#1 - OBSERVE THE SABBATH
Take a day and rest. This isn't just a suggestion, Sabbath observance is the fourth commandment. Go to church enjoy God's presence, don't make it a chore or like work where you clock in and then clock out.
#2 - UNPLUG FROM TECHNOLOGY
EPIK you have heard me talk about this alot. Don't make this a bondage thing... you can live without your technology for a while. Remember distance yourself from the noise of the world for a little bit and focus on God and allow God to speak to you. We can't hear God if there are other noises drowning out His voice.
#3 - GET A HOBBY
Take up knitting... just kidding, unless you like that kind of stuff. Work out, ride bike, take a walk, graphic design, video editing something that fuels your passions and doesn't seem like work to you. Volunteer somewhere. Meet new people. Share your love and passion for God with others.
#4 - HAVE BOUNDARIES / STANDARDS / SO BE IT ISSUES
You don't need to impress everyone. What are your "So Be It" issues in your life that you won't compromise. You won't bow down to when everyone else is bowing down. How will people see Christ in you? How will you be different.
#5 - STOP PROCRASTINATING
You only have this minute in your life once. You only have this day in your life once. You only have this week in your life once. You only have this month in your life once and yes you only have this year in your life once. What are you going to do with the time God has Blessed you with. Yes I said blessed you with. No one knows the time or the hour. We don't know when our life could be done. What do you do every day? How long do we watch TV, How long do we surf the net, how long do we spend looking at our cell phone waiting for it to ring or be texted by someone? What are you putting off until tomorrow that could be done today? Have you spent time with God today? What did His word say?
#6 - PUT YOUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER
What are your priorities and in what order do you place them?
Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 to "trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all of your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight". Put God first in all you do... All you do and you won't go wrong. Remember ladies you have heard me say it and I will say it again that if that guy you are with does not love God more than you, your relationship is doomed and won't be blessed, and guys that goes the same way around.
#7 - SEEK COUNCIL
Don't go about things alone. Pray about decisions you need to make. Seek wise council as well. You are not meant to be an island on your own. Seek a trusted friend and adviser, a pastor or someone you look up to. A word of advice, make sure this person loves God with all of their heart. If they do, they are going to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
#8 - CREATE A BUDGET
What? Budget? What do you mean? I will tell you! Are you tithing? Are you giving to Missions [Speed The Light]? Are you spending wisely or foolishly? The Bible talks much about money cause money is important and if you don't know what you are doing, you will get yourself into trouble... seek advise on this as well. Priorities are important on this issue as well.
#9 - GET PERSPECTIVE
Sometimes it's hard to examine ourselves to find areas of fault or weakness, and denial is one of the key factors that stops people from identifying and then dealing with their issues. This goes along with Seek Council... have people who can speak into your life and again tell you what you need to hear, not what you want. A few minutes of honest dialogue may seem uncomfortable, but it will give you a valuable outside view of your life and help you in bettering it.
#10 - READ THE BIBLE / PRAY / SPEND TIME WITH GOD DAILY
Saving the best for last but this should be first... In the Senior high we give out red cards and that has a key verse to memorize for each week and a Bible reading plan. I am proud of all of you who are putting God's word to memory and living it out. Too often we let other things take priority in our life and become idols, to which we sacrifice relationships and time with God. Taking time to study God's Word, to pray and to be in fellowship with other believers helps put our focus on God and to put all other things in their proper place as important parts of our lives but not the reason to live. God should be first in all we say and do.
I am proud of all of you and work on some of these tips as I am. Remember you are either growing daily or dieing gradually and as for me, I refuse to die gradually.
posted by epikblog | 5/09/2008
and the message is heard through the word of Christ.