(Submitted by Donnie O’Fallon)
Over the Christmas holidays I watched again, as I do each
year, that wonderful old classic, “ It’s a wonderful Life “ with Jimmy Stewart
as George Bailey, in the leading role. All George wanted to do was to marry
Mary, give her the moon, travel and get out of Bedford Falls. But it seemed at
every turn he was delayed and prevented from accomplishing his dreams, his
goals and his ambitions. But with each hindrance, obstacle, and turn of
events that hindered him from attaining his objectives, George seemed to always
want to do and did do what was RIGHT.
As I watched it this year I thought to myself for the first
time, “ as George was given the opportunity to look back over his life, George
thought his life was a failure, a Mess, but it was really a Master Piece.”
Then I thought, as I stand at the threshold of a new year, what can I do
to make my life a Master Piece for God and one that will make a difference in
lives of others as well? How would you describe your life? Are you achieving
what you desire and what God desires for you? Are you accomplishing the things
that are important to you? Do you consider yourself a success? How do the
prospects look for 2015?
Ponder with me the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3: 12, “ Not that I have already obtained all
this, ( all verses prior chapters 1,2,3 ) or have already have been made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold
of me.” I believe our success as a Christian, in whatever
your profession, is to honor God and to do that we must begin each day with Him.
The scriptures teach us that, “it is in Him
that we live and move and have our very being.” We must
determine what our daily agenda is going to be. If you and I will make a few
key decisions and then manage them well in our daily agenda, we can and will
accomplish much to God’s glory and the good of others. Success doesn’t just
suddenly occur one day in your life. For that matter, neither does failure.
Each is a process. Every day of our lives is merely preparation for the next
day if God gives it. What you become is the result of what you do today. You
see, you are preparing for something,” A Mess or a Master Piece.” The way
you live your life today is preparing you for your tomorrow. This
requires two ingredients! One is, you must make a decision and the other is
discipline. You must discipline yourself to do the right thing in
order to in act change in yourself and others. Each of these is a byproduct of
the abiding presence of God’s Spirit and leading in our lives.
As I watched, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” I was also reminded of
something I had previously read in one of John Maxwell’s books which he called,
“ The Daily Dozen.” See if the resonate with you as they did with me when I
read them and sought to incorporate them into my life and ministry some years
ago?
1.
Attitude:
Daily, choose and display the right attitude no matter the circumstances.
2.
Priorities: Daily,
determine and act on important priorities
3.
Health: Daily,
know and follow good health guidelines. Remember, your body is the Temple of
God Spirit.
4.
Family: Daily,
communicate with and care for and minister to my family.
5.
Thinking: Daily,
practice and develop good thinking habits. Too many of our actions and
attitudes come from stinking thinking!
6.
Commitment: Daily,
make and keep proper commitments.
7.
Finances: Daily,
make and properly manage everything that God has entrusted to you as a Steward.
8.
Faith: Daily,
deepen and live out your faith. Spend alone time with Him in His Word, prayer
and meditation and with Gods people.
9.
Relationships:
Daily, initiate and invest in in solid relationships. Remember life is about
relationships!
10.
Generosity:
Daily plan for and model generosity. With your money and your time spend some ,
share some and save some.
11.
Values: Daily,
establish, embrace and practice moral, ethical and Biblical values.
12.
Growth: Daily,
in some way seek to be a better Christian, husband, son, dad, neighbor,
citizen, employee…etc.
Prayer: “
Father,
you’re the potter and we’re the clay! We desire our lives to be a Master Piece
and a blessing to you , our families and to others. So that we not make a mess
of our lives and service to you, show those areas you desire to work in us, to
change us. Let us decide and determine to be a better servant in 2015 than we
were in 2014. Enable and empower us to so discipline and yield our lives
to you as change agents in our world which you use to allow others to see Jesus
in us. Fashion us into your Master Piece. Amen!”
