Welcome to the December 10th edition of Faith & Life Lessons.
You will see this email full of tidbits from my week. My goal is simple. I hope that from how I live my life, you can find a thing or two that helps you as you try to live a life that matters. I am always trying to do one thing - make Christ-focused decisions in love, work, and life. And this was my week.
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The Story of My Week
I have 2024 mapped out.
Not every step...just the most important ones.
The big picture is in full view.
I am only focusing on 3 goals - 3 needle moving goals.
These are the kinds of goals that place a higher demand on me in almost every area of life.
In my parenting, marriage, work, practice, ministry, spiritual walk and leadership.
Yes, it is possible to have 3 goals that create growth in all these areas
As a foundation to support those goals, I have 3 core activities that I will be focusing on every day.
These 3 habits define how I will show up in all my important life areas.
These 3 habits are driven by my ONE WORD for the year.
For the last couple of years, I always have a WORD that defines how I am going to drive myself in the new year.
My 3 goals, 3 habits, and 1 word are all in service of one thing - My Big Vision.
Yes, I have a vision which I keep in front of me. It's a long-term vision.
It's a vision with specific results tied to it.
The goals and habits I pursue consistently are aimed at getting me to the vision.
2024 is all setup - and set up in the service of the big vision.
2024 will require more than I have ever given any year up till now.
It will call for more faith, courage and commitment.
But it's going to be worth it.
I'm looking forward to the other side of 2024.
Things I Learnt
1 - What is Happening in Your Network: During the week, I brought two people who were part of my network of friends but who had never met each other together.
How did this happen?
I was speaking with one of my friends and as we spoke, I realised that she had an issue that needed urgent attention.
I have long realised the value of staying in my lane.
Just because I identified the existence of the problem does not mean I have the silver bullet to take it out.
I asked her if she would be open to meeting with another friend on it.
She was.
I reached out to another friend within my friendship network and asked if he would be willing to step him.
He was.
I connected the two of them and disappeared from the picture.
This is one of the ways my network of friends becomes stronger - when I connect them together.
It ensures I am not the only hub within the network.
Stronger networks make for deeper connections.
This is why I am always on the lookout when a friend brings up an issue - I try to see if there is someone else within the network who can solve it.
Another problem was solved.
A network strengthened.
2 - Don't let the Hope-Stealers in: A particular news update came in during the week.
After reading, the fear of the future crept in.
Exactly what was expected after such news. It wasn’t news directly for me.
It was something about the economy of my country.
But without realizing it, it was stealing my hope in the bright future ahead for my country.
Yes, no matter how bad things get, there is still a good future at the next bend.
I have seen it before.
When we went through the dark days of military dictatorship, it didn’t look like there was a way out.
But we came out on the other side and the dictators were taken out.
I still have that level of hope in my country.
And no news from far or near is going to steal my hope.
Help is on the way.
Postscript
May the avalanche of disturbing updates from the news cycle never steal your hope in a brighter future for you and your country. Amen.
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Tola - The Everyday Disciple
I help Christians like you who want to live intentional lives incorporate their faith into everyday life so they can make Christ focused decisions in all areas of life and truly live to make an impact and make God happy.
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