#5 don’t let your “want to’s” become
“i wish i would have’s”...
if you're not careful your “want to's” are going to give way to “I wish I would have's.” i certainly have a lot of “want to’s” that ended up in the box of “wish i would have”. and really even these 16 items are quickly approaching that box. if you want to be a godly woman, if you want an active faith, if you want to know Jesus well, if you want to love Him well... what good is it if you want those things but do nothing to head that way? and when i comes down to the nitty gritty, i really don't believe in the power of the human self (maybe i know MY human self a little too well). i believe in grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, but sanctification is a process of God and you. a painful process, a process of sacrifice, discipline, and a lot of other things that don’t seem fun at the time BUT lead you into a lot of cool places where you really “want to” be. nobody gets holy by sitting on the couch (believe me, if it was so, i would be the holiest person EVER. and we all know i am NOT). nobody is a best friend by checking facebook. nobody loves and serves and gives and really lives while playing doodle jump on there iphone (hee hee hee). it's not enough to want to. “want to” will always give way to “i wish i would have.” the wise person knows where she's going, knows what she wants to be and she's working a plan to get there. she also surrounds herself with men and women who are beyond her and exemplify who she wants to be later. go find those men and women and make your “want to’s” into “did that and am still doing that’s”.
#6 three legged stools
are stable for a reason
balance. and so is your life a balancing act. mind, body, soul. ignore one and tip over. concentrate only on one and you have a really unstable situation. read, learn, study. AND spend time in the Word, in prayer, listening to wonderfully wise sermons, in small group Bible study and journaling about what God is teaching you. AND work on your physical body. exercise, shower (please), brush your hair and teeth. and be as cute as you can be. BUT keep them all balanced. more on the outside than inside, you are shallow and vain. more on the brain and you become a learned fool who cannot love. more on the spirit and you ignore God’s temple that He gave you to take care of. all three are important. don’t have an unstable life.
#7 life is an open Book test
don’t you love an open book test? oh, i loved those. and guess what? that is our life! open the Book and all of the instructions for living are THERE! right THERE! God created this world. He created everything. and He knows how it works best. you can guess at things, go your own way, use a screwdriver to drive a nail in the wall... but if you want to know the answers... they are in the Book. and He lets you keep it open. you will read it. and it will read you. it will tell you more about yourself and your nature than you really want to know. but heed it, and it will satisfy your soul. ignore it at your own peril.
#8 be kind.
always.
and to those who you think deserve it the least, be the most kind
leave every encounter, every place you go, every conversation more beautiful because you were there. smile at people who don’t smile at you. talk to people and ask them about their life. be interested in others. truly care about other human beings. everyone (even the most popular person in the world) is carrying a burden. everyone has a story to tell. they all have something to teach you. learn it. love. and be kind. even when it is hard. especially when it is hard.