“Come now, you
who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year
there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will
happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a
little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord
wills, we shall live and do this or that.'” (James 4:13-15 NKJ)
who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year
there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will
happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a
little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord
wills, we shall live and do this or that.'” (James 4:13-15 NKJ)
So it’s the first
day of 2014. The first day of the rest of my life. Many opportunities to
consider. Many choices open for reflection. Many decisions to be made. What am
I to do about my future? Before proceeding, it is important to reflect upon my
values and the resultant passion.
day of 2014. The first day of the rest of my life. Many opportunities to
consider. Many choices open for reflection. Many decisions to be made. What am
I to do about my future? Before proceeding, it is important to reflect upon my
values and the resultant passion.
In his The YOU Plan: A
5-Step Guide To Taking Charge of Your Career In the New Economy, Dr.
Michael Woodward writes, “Values can be thought of as the personal code
upon which you build the foundation of your life. They are the principles that
you hold near and dear and that define your character” (pg. 23).
5-Step Guide To Taking Charge of Your Career In the New Economy, Dr.
Michael Woodward writes, “Values can be thought of as the personal code
upon which you build the foundation of your life. They are the principles that
you hold near and dear and that define your character” (pg. 23).
Woodward offers
three questions to help me identify and define my values. What am I willing to
pay for? Fight for? Sacrifice for? Answering these questions is certainly not
for the faint-of-heart, it is a journey in reality . . . personal reality.
three questions to help me identify and define my values. What am I willing to
pay for? Fight for? Sacrifice for? Answering these questions is certainly not
for the faint-of-heart, it is a journey in reality . . . personal reality.
I am thinking about
this year and the rest of my life. There is still much that I can do for the
Lord. I simply need to focus on the path that I will follow to achieve his
will. And that, I tell myself, is what the rest of my life is all about . . .
the Lord’s will. And my values will focus me in the right direction, because
God implanted them in me.
this year and the rest of my life. There is still much that I can do for the
Lord. I simply need to focus on the path that I will follow to achieve his
will. And that, I tell myself, is what the rest of my life is all about . . .
the Lord’s will. And my values will focus me in the right direction, because
God implanted them in me.
Though similar in
many respects to those of other people, my values are uniquely meaningful to
me. As I identify my values, it is important to remember Woodward’s three
focusing questions. For things are truly valued only if I am willing to pay
for, fight for, and sacrifice for them.
many respects to those of other people, my values are uniquely meaningful to
me. As I identify my values, it is important to remember Woodward’s three
focusing questions. For things are truly valued only if I am willing to pay
for, fight for, and sacrifice for them.
Of course, this is
no mere academic exercise of making a bucket list. I’m talking about how I’m
going to live and minister in 2014. I am concerned about intentional ministry
and passionate living. The same old routine — the rut of the past — no longer
gratifies my spirit.
no mere academic exercise of making a bucket list. I’m talking about how I’m
going to live and minister in 2014. I am concerned about intentional ministry
and passionate living. The same old routine — the rut of the past — no longer
gratifies my spirit.
In his second letter
to Timothy, Paul wrote, “I
am now ready to be offered.” I, on the other hand, am prepared to die,
but am not ready to go just yet. And according to the Lord’s will, there is
much yet to be achieved for him. I am
still paying, fighting, and sacrificing.
to Timothy, Paul wrote, “I
am now ready to be offered.” I, on the other hand, am prepared to die,
but am not ready to go just yet. And according to the Lord’s will, there is
much yet to be achieved for him. I am
still paying, fighting, and sacrificing.
Dear Father, thank
you for paying for my salvation, fighting for my soul, and sacrificing your son
in the bargain. Inspire me with the appropriate values to passionately and
intentionally pursue your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for paying for my salvation, fighting for my soul, and sacrificing your son
in the bargain. Inspire me with the appropriate values to passionately and
intentionally pursue your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Today, consider your
future carefully,
future carefully,