Living In ThePresent With The Future In Mind

What worked for me in my 20s and how I have operated since then no longer works for me here at age 45.  I am trying to live in the present tense, but asking myself, my family, my friends, and my mentors what is going to be important to me at age 55, 60, and 65...?  I don't want to get there and say "If only I had done X, Y, & Z."  I am suffering now because of not doing things differently from my 20s on up.  

So, what can I do now to prepare for those years? 

[Sign in to follow this blog and post your replies here]

Giving Your Life Away: Impacting The Next Generation

5 Principles:

1- Be A Disciple Yourself First
(John 15:5; Col 2:6-7)

2- Be With Them All The Time As Much As Possible
(1 Thes 2:8}

3- Pray for Them All The Time As Much As Possible
(John 17; Col 1:9-13; 4:12-13)

4- Teach Them God's Truth All The Time As Much As Possible
(2 Tim 2:2; Deut 6:4-9)

5- Treat Them and See Them As Life Long Friends
(Matt 28:20; John 14:17-18)


7 Practicals

1- Pray and Ask God to Give You A Man

2- Look for Someone F.A.T.
(Faithful, Available, Teachable)

3- Meet Regularly and Consistently

4-Fellowship, Doctrine, Vision
(make sure every meeting has these elements to give balance)

5- Have a Curriculum

6- Build Virtues into Your Relationship/Group Dynamic

7- Have Fun Together

[Thanks to Trent Gladstone for sharing these concepts at the Grace Community Church Men's Breakfast 7/10/2010]

YBH

I heard a new expression called YBH.  It means Yes, But How?

It is what I say to the Lord as I hear Him speak in my heart.  It has been awhile since I have written anything here.  It has been a confusing time with my life trial.  It has caused many questions and prayers to God about what the heck He is doing.  I was asking Him what to do?  Is this really what it seems?

The more the questions flowed the more I found myself not taking any action. It felt weird and uncomfortable.  I like to do something, but I have found the 'somethings' I have done to be miserable failures.  I guess I am learning to listen and let God work it out. 

I heard a little talk in between songs on WGTS about how we don't like to obey.  The speaker, whom I cannot remember the name of, said that one way to tell if it is God's will is that you won't want to do it.  God never gives us enough information and it is always extremely difficult to do.  I don't know about you, but I have said "Forget it, God.  I will make a plan."  Many times in my life this thought process took place subconsciously.  Then when I am backed into a dead end, God sends help [bless his Name], but I still have to do something I don't want to choose; something I know very little about, and is extremely difficult. 

So it is back to "Yes, But How?"  By My Spirit says the Lord.  My grace is sufficient for you.