Advice.....

Image by koalazymonkey via Flickr

A friend asked me yesterday what advice I would give to someone who was 20 years younger. After I was insulted to think that anyone would be 20 years younger I really liked the question.

What are the important things that I would tell someone?

The following are the first things that came to mind. Some have a spiritual reference and others well, they are lessons that I learned along the way.

• Follow hard after God. Make Him first. "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." John 12:26
• Develop your prayer life. Learn to Abide in Christ. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.'"John 15:5
• Pray without ceasing. Pray for and with others.
• Do what God tells you to do the first time! "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words." Proverbs 4:20
• Ask God for Directions. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. " Psalm 32:8
• Enjoy your health. Take good care of your body. I Corinthians 6:19
• Develop your gifts. If you don't know what they are, find out and ask God if you can begin to use them. I Corinthians 12
• Passionately serve in the church and in the community.
• Remember that ministry is a lifestyle. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4:11
• Say you are sorry. Make the decision to not do it again. "Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again." Job 34:32
• Go on Mission trips. Romans 10:14-15
• Find a mentor. Someone who will listen and challenge you.
• Be a mentor. Pass on the the things God has taught you.
• Commit to a small group. Hebrews 10:24
• Enjoy your parents. Have fun together. I Timothy 5:4
• Go to school- Don't wait.
• Don't worry about the small stuff. Give it to God and move on. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. "Psalm 139:23
• Learn to read and apply God's word daily. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2Timothy 3:16
• Watch older Christian couples. How they relate to each other, parent their children and serve.. You can learn alot!
• Say thank you. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

These challenge me even today. I wonder what I would be like if had started all of these twenty years ago? Still, I praise God that he has taught me the importance of this list and more.

What would be on your list?

Father,

I am humbled by your reminders of trusting you each day. thank you for always teaching, always guiding, always loving. Forgive me for being such a slow learner. I pray that the next 20 years will be spent serving and abiding in you. Help me to reflect you today.

Jann

Thank you Father

God is a father to the fatherless. Psalm 68:5

I learned so many things from my earthly father. He taught me to be kind to others, to help those in need, to give freely of your time. He was a hard and diligent worker. He always made people feel comfortable and he smiled all the time. These are some valuable things that I learned from him. I did not learn godly things however. He was not a man that followed God. I am not exactly sure why, but he did not teach me about Jesus or how to follow him. This was probably because he does not know Jesus. I will always be thankful that he is in my life and that I have good memories of times with him and I continue to pray that someday he might embrace the God the father. (Abba Avinu) Romans 8:15

Praise God that He knew I needed Godly men in my life to be examples of Fathers who love Jesus. When I became a Christian in High School, the youth pastor, Dan Webster was giving a message about God the father. Even then God knew what I needed and thus began the journey of my life. Through the next couple of years I learned through Dan's leadership what it meant to allow God the father, to love and lead me. Thank you Dan for the impact you had in my life.

In early college, Jon Byron became the next Godly man that God used to shape my image of God the father. Jon and his wife Francie lovingly showed me how a couple who loves the Lord raises a family to love Jesus and how a christian couple can glorify God. They continue to be a Godly examples for me.

Through the years I have had the pleasure of being a part of amazing fellowships where Godly men have stood in the gap to show me Godly fathers. Thank you.

Lastly I want to praise God for my husband Kevin. God has used him mightily in my life to show me the Father's love. He is an example in all of his caring ways towards our girls and continues to bless our lives with his gentle and loving leadership.

God is the father to the fatherless. We might not always have been in Christian families. We might not all have had loving fathers or any father at all. There are some who lost there fathers early or who still mourn their loss. We are not fatherless.

Abba- Thank you for choosing me and for giving me godly men to teach and love me. You are the great provider. You are an amazing daddy. Bless all who hunger and thirst after you that they might be satisfied. Happy Fathers day!

Your daughter,

Jann