Showing posts with label harris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harris. Show all posts

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Don't Waste Your Life!


My beau & I have spent the last several days answering some questions concerning our courtship. Questions about our faith, doctrine/ theology, experience, values, preferences, expectations, convictions, traditions, strengths, weaknesses, habits, interests, talents/ gifts, personalities, standards, behaviors etc as we get to know each other better & pursue the possibility of marriage.

 [Once we're finished answering them, we're going to discuss them with our parents] And believe me, there are some hard questions in there! Some that made me drop my jaw & say, "WOW. Did they really just ask that??" [For a complete list of the questions, click here]

Anyway, one of the sections was about values, goals, dreams, plans etc. Some of the questions in that section were as follows:

1. What do you value most highly in life? Second?
2. What is your "life purpose"?

3. How you intend to use your interests, experiences, skills, and talents to serve and glorify God?)
4. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 20 years?
5. How would those who know you well describe your personal character?


These made me stop & think- Why am I on this earth? What has God sent me here to accomplish? What am I to do with the time He has given me? What are my goals, aspirations, dreams, "plans" etc?

Then I got to the next question-
 
 "When the Lord calls you home, how
would you like people to remember you?"
 

 WOW. That really made me stop & think. It's one thing to talk about your goals, dreams, plans, aspirations etc when you're in your early twenties. It's quite another to think about your death- How you want to be remembered, what you want to be known for, what you want to accomplish in your lifetime etc. I really had to think about that one...

So... Some questions for you-

What do you want to be remembered for most?
What do you want your eulogy to be?
What do you want to accomplish in your lifetime?
What do you want to be "known for"?
What is your Calling?
What is your life's Purpose?
Why are you here on this earth?
What are your goals, aspirations, dreams, desires?
What has God pre-ordained you to do while you are on this earth?


I am not trying to be morbid or dark here. Just something to think about. It is never too early to address these sorts of "heavy" topics. We do not know when our time will come or when the Lord might return (Matthew 24:36-44). Life is "but a vapor..." (James 4:13-17).[For more on this topic, read here & here].


 I think we should be "known for what we do," more than for what we don't do. I don't think it's good enough to be known for being the "good girl," for not "doing bad things." Our standards should be way higher than that. Instead of being known as the one who simply "didn't do bad things," we should strive for a higher standard- being known for the good, right, honourable, righteous, God-honoring things that we do. [For more on this topic, read here]



Tuesday, October 4, 2011

DO HARD THINGS!


5 Kinds of Hard Things
1) Things that take you out of your comfort zone (taking risks in order to grow)
2) Things that go beyond what is expected or required (pursuing excellence)
3) Things that are too big to accomplish alone (daring & dreaming big)
4) Things that go against the cultural norm (taking a stand for what's right)
5) Things that don't earn immediate payoff (being Faithful & choosing integrity)

Doing hard things are not just for teenagers. We are Called to pursue righteousness, godliness & holiness in all areas of life, in all stages of life. The goal is to become ever more Christ-like. We will never "attain" that in this short lifetime.

What does this look like? How does one do this? By battling complacency, overcoming obstacles, through accountability & mentorship, by raising the bar, stretching comfort zones, pursuing excellence & integrity etc .

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

There are always hard things to do- things God has pre-purposed for us to accomplish & is Calling us to do in His power, His strength & His motivation. What are yours?

For more information, I encourage you to read Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations & Start Here: Doing Hard Things Right Where You're At by Alex & Brett Harris