As 2014 comes to a close, it’s natural to want to look back and think about the last year. Was your 2014 successful or unsuccessful? If you’re like most, it’s a combination of both. How do you measure success? That’s the topic of conversation this week on the Podcast.
Here are the 8 Adjustments We Must Make to be Successful in 2015
[2Ti 3:1-5 ESV] But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
1. Make life about God
2. Discern fantasy from reality
3. Seek relationships, not arrangements
4. Invest your life
5. Seek reality
6. Accept responsibility
7. Focus on the end through the lens of process
8. Be willing to try
Merry Christmas from Jeff, DW, Jason and the crew of HopeNet Radio! At the core of Christmas is this thing called joy. Yet, why do so many people act joyless during Christmastime? This week’s episode is all about experiencing true joy this year. Joy is an attitude that constantly needs maintenance.
Unilateral listening is all about hearing what you want to hear without actually listening to the other person. We’ve all done it. Someone is talking to you about something and all you can think of is what you’re going to say next. You’re not actually listening. You’re just thinking…
It’s All About Me
Self-explanatory. The truth is that it’s not all about you. But you already knew that…
The Rules Don’t Apply
Nothing frustrates leaders more than having someone under them acting in a way in which they think they can do or say what they want when they want. This generally doesn’t end well for the person who is stuck in this mindset.
Turning Concerns into Criticisms
This one can be tricky. See if you can catch the difference between the two:
Concerns are statements that focus on the qualities which are arising in the relationship which we don’t like or find harmful. “When you promise to take out the trash and then don’t do so, it makes it hard for me to trust you and I don’t feel supported in caring for this household.”
Criticisms are statements that focus on the choices the other is making which we don’t like. “When you don’t take out the trash as you said you would you are being immature, selfish, and lazy.”
Blaming Outcomes on Anyone Other Than You
The other is like it…
Blaming Others for How I Feel
Until you begin to take responsibility for your shortcomings and mistakes, you will constantly be miserable. Blame-shifting is not fair to yourself or to others.
Each of these attitudes robs us of our joy. It’s so, so, so easy to fall into them because by nature we’re selfish. You and I want it to be about us all the time. Joy comes when we take focus off of me and puts it on God.
Next week, we’ll spend more time on the adjustments we must make to be joyful.
Check this out!
With all the negative news about police officers lately, we thought this was a great story that will warm your heart. This is truly what living joyfully is all about.
Here’s a list of the things that I’ve found have controlled me at some point in my life.
Money
Seemingly obvious, money does influence many people, especially those in decision-making positions of leadership. When Jesus said that we can’t serve both God and mammon (money), He wasn’t kidding. We do stupid things for a couple bucks.
Parents
No matter what age you are, many would have a hard time disappointing Mom and Dad over something small. You might even hear your Mom’s voice in your head before making an important decision. Those who labored to raise us have tremendous weight in our lives. And some of us never grow up because of it.
Relationships
What would you do for love? The truth is, we’re all looking for love and meaningful relationships in life. And when we find them, we don’t want to fail them. And sometimes, we allow ourselves to be ruled by a few significant relationships in life. You might even have made a few important choices based on what a couple of these friends were doing at the time. Relationships can be a great thing in our life. It can also be the source of the biggest pain we can ever know in this world. And when we get disappointed by one of them, it can be tramatic.
My Past
This ties in with the last one a little. You let your past control who you become. History does have a way of repeating and we often end up making the same mistakes more than once in life. Some people have a really difficult time letting go of what the past was. And I’m not just talking about past failures or pains. I’m also talking about success. We can really fixate on significant moments in our past to define who we become in life. This is not good. But it’s a reality.
Social Acceptance
Want to disappoint everyone? Try winning the approval of everyone and you’ve found the secret. That’s right. Seeking approval from everyone will eventually lead to disappointment and despair. So, what can we do? Disappoint a few people just to win a few others’ approval? Maybe. But then you’ll feel guilty for letting the others down. It’s a miserable cycle.
Anger & Emotions
It’s truly amazing and disturbing to see the world events escalate based on a few people’s angry emotions. Anger does something to a person that can easily become contagious and spread like a wildfire. Get a bunch of angry people together, and watch a riot break out. One decision rooted in anger can change the course of your life or someone else’s life in an instant. Do not let your anger rule you.
The Spirit
There’s only one thing that I’ve allowed to control me that has produced strong, life-changing, positive results in my life. Namely, surrendering to the Holy Spirit. Every other thing on this list has left me feeling more insecure, lonely, inadequate or… angry. The Spirit works from the inside-out. Most everything else works opposite that to try to change our circumstances. And none are permanent changes. The others are cyclical and temporary. Learn more about the Spirit in your life today.
Tonight, two youth pastors join Jeff and DW on the show! Michael Ott, Student Ministries Pastor at Graceway Fellowship, and Jordan Wind, Youth Pastor at Heartland Church chat about their experience in student ministry and give some challenging perspectives. What does it mean to conform? How should we live as Christians?
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2
“Who we’re following and what we’re following determines which direction we go in life.” – DW
