MANAGE YOUR TIME/MANAGE YOUR LIFE

PART 4

Years ago I worked for a Christian organization. I really enjoyed my work. Like most organization I was required to go through a yearly review process. A yearly review can be helpful in keeping you on the right track.

But I will never forget one review. It was a good review. But my supervisor gave me this important suggestion. “Dan, you need to keep a “to do” list.

There was a reason why Dave made this suggestion. I would sometimes forget to follow through on important items. Occasionally I would drop important balls.

I responded by saying this to Dave. “I do keep a “to do” list.

Dave then raised this question. “Then what is the problem?”

Finally, I gave him this simple answer. “I keep forgetting to look at my “to do” list.

We have looked at creating your mission statement and goals. Now it is time to place your mission and goals into action on a day to day basis. I have found one of the best ways to stay on track with your mission and goals is the proper use of a “to do” list.

At the beginning of each month I write out my “to do” list. In order to accomplish this task, some people find it helpful to get away for the work place noise. Perhaps you will find it helpful to do your monthly “to do” list at a local coffee shop, or some other quite place.

For the month I make two list. I make a list for what I want to accomplish in my personal life and in my work. I then place a star beside the items that I must accomplish in the month ahead. The items with a star have to be accomplished no matter what happens in my life.

Don't be frustrated if you have items that need to be carried over into the next month. That's just part of life. Besides a project may take more than one month. For example, I have been working on a Bible study series for pastors. It's called “Philippians for Pastor.” I have been working on this project for over a year. And that's OK.

Next I plan my week. My week begins on Tuesday. So I normally plan my week on Tuesday morning. I simply look at my monthly list, and decide what I must accomplish for the week. I include all appointments and projects that I need to accomplish in the week ahead.

Finally, I plan my day. I simply make a list each morning what I need to accomplish for the day. You may find it hepful to do your daily list the night before. You may even find it helpful to arrive at work fifthteen minutes early to make out your list. ­

Life is full of busy work. There may be things on your list you do not really what to do. But they have to be done. The important thing is to make sure you plan each month, week, and day in light of your mission and goals. When this happens your “to do” list becomes a tool rather than a burden.

Remember years ago I told my supervisor that I kept forgetting to look at my “to do” list. I am glad to report I no longer have this problem. For years I have faithfully kept my “to do” list. And I regularly look at the list to make sure I am accomplishing what God has given me to do. My list is an important tool to stay on track to accomplish my mission in life.

MANAGE YOUR TIME/MANAGE YOUR LIFE PART III

MANAGE YOUR TIME/MANAGE YOUR LIFE

PART III

When I was a teenager I loved aquatic spots. I loved swimming in the ocean and the lake. I therefore collected every aquatic Boy Scout merit badge. This included the mile swim. I even became a certified Boy Scout Life Guard.

But I had a little trouble in my rowing merit badge class. In a row boat you sit in the opposite direction from where you are headed. You can't see where you are going. So I kept turning my head to see the direction I was rowing the boat. This prevented me from rowing the boat in a straight line. I was all over the lake.

My rowing instructor came to my rescue. Now this is what he told me to do. “Pick out a tree on the opposite side of the lake. Keep your eye on the tree, and row your boat in line with the tree.” It worked. And it worked immediately.

Remember the first principle of time management is to know your God given mission or purpose in life. This is what we looked at last week. But this is the second principle in time management. Create and maintain the goals that enable you to fulfill your mission or purpose in life.

The goals you create will enable you to row your boat or your life in the right direction. And the right direction is to fulfill your mission or purpose in life. Let me therefore make the follow suggestions to you about goal setting.

1. Set your goals in the fall and re-adjust them in January. Perhaps I like this approach because I spent a lot of time in the academic arena. The school year begins in the fall. But you can start your goal setting at anytime. But this is my suggestion. Take time to set your goals, and re-adjust them six months later.
2. Take a personal retreat to pray and set your goals for the year. Setting goals in a quiet place with little or no interruptions makes a big difference. If a personal retreat is impossible then do your best to find a quiet place with uninterrupted time.
3. It is best to set no more than seven major goals for the year. Too many goals will hinder you from focusing on your mission. Years ago I worked for an organization that required me to set goals in 13 different areas. I don't remember the 13 areas, but I do remember my frustration. I became more productive when I limited myself to seven goals.
4. Always set your goals in an attitude of prayer. You want your goals to please God rather than yourself.
5. Set goals for every major area of your life. For me that means setting goals for family life, sermons, writing assignment, finances, etc. But remember you only want to set seven major goals.
6. Review your goals on a regular bases. Some read their goals every morning and evening. Some review their goals each week and each month. Your goals are useless unless you stop to evaluate your progress. You need to determine if you are reaching your goals or falling behind.
7. Expect delays. Last month I received the news that a relative was very sick. I decided it was important to visit my relative. That meant putting my goals aside for a week. And that's OK. Since I had written goals I was able to get back on track when I got home.
8. Expect changes. As you set out to fulfill your goals you may discover you need to change direction. Remember goals setting is just a tool to help you fulfill your mission or purpose in life. If you discover that a goal is not beneficial it's OK to change.

Remember your goals will help you row your boat or life in the right direction. But above everything else, make sure your goals glorify and honor God. For Paul tells us in I Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

MANAGE YOUR TIME/ MANAGE YOUR LIFE

YOUR MISSION IN LIFE

PART II

Whenever I give my time management seminar I always begin by passing out a 3X5 card to each participate. On their 3X5 card I ask each person to write an answer to this important question. “What is my mission in life?” Then I encourage the group to share their answer.

Now this is the reason why I ask each participate to answer this important question. The first principle of time management is to know your mission or purpose in life. Your mission or purpose statement will allow you to focus on the important things of life, and discard the less important.

It's fun to listen to people share their mission or purpose statement of life. But what do you do if you do not know your mission in life? Let me share with you the steps you can take to discover or recover your mission in life.

First, determine your passion. We all have a passion about something. Some may have a passion about football. Another person may have a passion for playing the piano. Still another person may have a passion about caring for animals. A passion is something that causes excitement in your life. I have a passion for studying the Bible, but I do not have a passion for math. I would never make a good accountant.

Now this is what sometimes happens in life. We work hard in a certain field to earn money. But we may have little or no passion for that particular field. For example, a college student may study hard and even make good grades as a physics major, but in reality their real passion is the piano. Instead of majoring in physics they need to major in music.

Second, determine your strengths. Every person has two to four major strengths in their lives. One of the best ways to determine your strengths is to ask the people around you for help. Like a mirror they can reflect back to you how God has created you. A strength is something you do well. And when you do it well, you gain energy rather than feeling drained. Most people would say my strengths are preaching/teaching, leadership, and evangelism.

At this point we need to be very careful. It is possible for someone to be passionate about a field of work, but not have the strengths required to do the work. I know a young man who is passionate about performing music, but he simply does not have the ability to perform. He cannot sing.

When you determine how your passion and strengths intersect with one another, then you will discover what mission or purpose God has given you. But please understand this is process and not a one time event. It's journey. So please don't become discourage if this process takes some time.

If after careful consideration you still do not know your mission or purpose in life, ask God to open your eyes. And ask him to send the right people in your life who can help you discover God's mission for your life. But remember you are not here by accident. God has a special and unique plan for your life. God has a mission for your to accomplish for His glory.

I like what David tells us in Psalm 139:13.“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.” As stated before, you are not hear by accident. God created your body, temperament, and strengths. And he has a mission for you to complete while here on earth for His glory. (I Cor. 10:31) Like Jesus we want to come to the end of our lives and know that we have completed the work he gave us to do. (John 17:4)

Manage your Time/Manage Your Life Part I

Manage Your Time/Manage Your Life

PART I

Years ago I received a phone call. The person calling me did not identity themselves. They just yelled at me. Let me share with you the words the person on the the phone yelled at me. “I can't do it all. “ They then repeated the same words to me a second time. “I can't do it all.”

A few minutes later I was able to determine the identity of the caller. The caller was a university student named Fran. She had a crazy schedule. Now she was at the end of her rope. I then promised to help her with her time management problems.

You may feel exactly like Fran. You may feel as if you have too much to do. You can't keep up with the demands of life. You feel frustrated. Like Fran you want to scream at someone with a loud voice. “I can't do it all.”

Before we look at the principles of time management we need to make sure you understand three important truths about time. First, God created time and space. In Genesis 1&2 we see that God created the concept of seven days a week. The idea of time was not created by man. It was created by God.

Second, God has placed you on earth at this time and place. According to Acts 17:26 God is the one who determined your time and place in this world. You may wish you lived in another time period. But this is the time God placed you on this earth to glorify Him and make a difference in people's lives.

Third, God has made you a steward of your time. Time is a precious gift from God. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:15&16 that we are to walk wisely by redeeming the time. We walk wisely in this world by the proper use of our time, money, and energy.

When I met with Fran a week later my first order of business was to convince her that she was absolutely right. She could not do it all. If you are honest with yourself then you have to admit that it is impossible for you to do it all. You have to decide in life what is important and what is less important.

But whether you are a pastor, homemaker, salesperson, or CEO all good leaders have this in common with one another. They keep improving their time management skills. The more you improve your time management skills the more you can determine when to say “yes” and when to say “no.” Remember like Fran you can't do it all.

Having looked at the three truths about time in our next article we will look at the first principle of time management.