Week 384

Positive post Sunday, July 7, 2024…. Week 384.  As my family and close friends know, I love to read and write.  Although this was not the case in my early years.  In fact, I’m sure if you asked my mom when I was in school, she would say she wondered if I was ever going to learn how to read and write.  Well, this supports my belief that when you put your mind to it, with determination and persistence you can turn your greatest challenges into your biggest passions and skills.

Speaking of reading and writing, I especially enjoy reading leadership and faith-based books and writing about positive life experiences that have helped me advance my leadership skills and kept me grounded and focused on my spirituality as I continue to pursue my life goal of pleasing God until he calls me home.

Over the past few months, I have read several books that have reinforced my beliefs and values, strengthened and deepened my faith and challenged me to shift my focus From Success to Significance (Lloyd Reeb) as I continue to live well past Half Time (Bob Buford). 

I just finished reading another excellent book by Craig Groeschel titled, Think Ahead, 7 Decisions You Can Make Today for the God-Honoring Life You Want Tomorrow.  I strongly recommend this book to all those seeking thoughtful, practical, and actionable ideas on how to “Think Ahead” BEFORE making daily and life decisions. By pre-deciding we can prevent emotional and impulsive decisions, reducing the gap between good intentions and Godly actions.

I wish I would have read these books earlier in my life, giving me more time to apply what I have learned.  To my younger fellow Christians, don’t wait, read early and often to strengthen your faith and take action to better serve the Lord.

Think Ahead really resonates with me, and truly causes me to Think Ahead on decisions I know I will need to make both daily and long term.  It has also sparked discussions among my family members as I have started using some of the examples and terminology in the book when making decisions, or should I say pre-deciding.  I can’t wait until they read the book so we can all support each other in making pre-decisions that strengthen are relationship with God, and that are aligned with our faith and life goal.

You’ll need to read the book to fully understand, but here are a few of my personal insights that may spark your interest in reading it.

– I need to increase my awareness of the temptations I face to better understand the pre-decisions I need to make and plan my escape.

– I value and will work on applying the 7 life-defining pre-decisions (be ready, be devoted, be faithful, be an influencer, be generous, be consistent and be a finisher).

– I have room to improve on how I place God first in my life.

– Michele and I both love God more than each other, after all, he gave us to each other!

– I have a better understanding of the difference between temptation and sin.

– When tempted, I will move the line, magnify the cost and map out my escape (definitely need to read the book to understand this one).

– My favorite time, place and plan to encounter Jesus is each Sunday morning when I write my PPS (and when I ride my bike).

– The one word I aspire to be my life goal is, Faithful.

– I will continue to be an influencer, bringing others closer to God.

– I pray that God opens doors for me to share my faith, and that I recognize and walk through them with confidence and passion.

– When I hear God calling me to do something, I will be a finisher and never give up.

– I better understand the difference between giving and being generous, and I aspire to do both.

– I will remember to “round up” improving my generosity.

– I will remember that when I get one, I will also give one away.

– I appreciate Dave Ramsey’s motto of, live like no one else so we can give like no one else.

– I’ll be consistent and work on converting good intentions into follow-through.

– God wants me to launch Bridge of Grace and to continue writing my PPS articles, so I will!

I’m hopeful my personal insights encourage you to read this book and gain your own insights that will strengthen your faith.

What do you hear God calling you to do and how will you use the 7 life-defining pre-decisions to guide you?

How will you turn good intentions into action through follow-up?