Monday, November 29, 2004

Think About This

Challenges are simply opportunities to learn and be strengthened by exercising the abilities that God has given to each of us in advance. All we need to do is ask for His wisdom, then use those abilities to help ourselves, each other, and the rest of mankind.

There is a saying that goes like this, "If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always gotten."

Think about that for a second.

Now, make a list of what you do every day. What are you doing?

Now, make a list of what you'd like your life to look like.

Answer this question, "Does my life match that list?"

If your answer is "yes" then great! You are already doing what you need to do to accomplish your life's goals.

If your answer is "no" then examine that first list. The one that lists what you do every day.

How many of the activities are intentional efforts to achieve your intended life? Which items could you abandon to help you achieve your dream?

Take out your list of goals. How many of the items on your "doing" lilst are intentional efforts to accomplich one of those goals?

What? You don't have a goals list? Hmmm......

Take a minute and create one. Here are some example short-term goals:

$20.00 a week into savings
Make my bed every day.
Read one chapter of the bible every day.
Read one motivational book every month.
Listen to one complete CD album every Saturday morning.
Vaccuum my room every Saturday morning (just before listening to the CD?)
Walk/run for 30 minutes every day.

Some long term goals might be

Pay cash for my next car, value of $5000 or more, by January 1, 2006
Make the dean's list, May 2005
Pay cash for a new Music Man bass by September 2005.
Accumulate $1000 for emergencies in my savings account by June 2005.


You see, I look at what I've gotten (for myself and for my family) and decided I can do better. So I need to change what I've been doing. If I don't, I'll get exactly what I've always gotten. I believe my family deserves better from me. I think that maybe life is demanding more from me. So I'm re-evaluating and making changes.

So what about you?

You have the talent to create a better world! I know you do.

MJV