Good Morning,
This has nothing to do with my message yesterday on the Transfiguration. It is a throw back to last weeks message on "A needed pit stop." I may spend the next couple of Monday Mornings memos unpacking some additional thoughts I did not have room for in my message but I do feel deserve an honorable mention.
In his book, "The 360° Leader" John Maxwell talks about a strategy he uses for managing his life. Each day as he looks at his schedule, he asks himself, "What is the main event of the day?" In other words, what is the one thing planned for that day to which he cannot afford to give less than his best. This is a good habit to get into: every morning, determine which item on your agenda is your top priority.
Here's another good habit: Each night, take a few moments at the end of the day to evaluate the most significant events of the day. After my head hits the pillow, before the sandman comes, I am getting in the habit of asking myself, "What were the top stories of the day?" In other words, if my life were a newscast, which events of the previous 24 hours would an anchor report? If my life were being recorded in a newspaper, which events today would make the front page above the fold?
This is taking practice to recognize. before I started this I must admit that most days were a blur, with me scrambling from one thing to the next. But over time I'm learning to recognize "newsworthy" events.
Some days, the top story is that I spent the afternoon with Jane and Tara. Or that I finished a sermon, or developed an idea for a sermon or a series. Or I talked to one of my Children on the phone. Or I spoke to a stranger about coming to church. Or I read a few chapters of a book. Or I made an important decision, like the decision to try again after a setback, or the decision to solve a problem.
Planning your days is a crucial step to success. Evaluating your day, looking back at what God accomplished through you today is another crucial step. I encourage you: get in the habit of identifying the top story of the day in your life. Psalm 92:12 says, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Grace & Peace
Pastor Ted
