Get in a time machine with me and go back ten years. You arrive in 2001 – a year that brought a great deal of change. The World Trade Center is still standing; maybe we all look a little naive in retrospect. If you could talk to the self that you were then and say anything, what would it be?
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Get in a time machine with me and go back ten years. You arrive in 2001 – a year that brought a great deal of change. The World Trade Center is still standing; maybe we all look a little naive in retrospect. If you could talk to the self that you were then and say anything, what would it be?
Our kids were all teenagers – Talia was getting ready to go off to college. I was just starting to learn about discipleship.
If I could visit myself and have a little talk, I’d probably tell my 2001 self to relax, listen to God’s voice and ease up on all the strategic planning. The best work stuff I did in the decade to come couldn’t be planned. Our involvement in Swaziland was the result of a phone call from a friend. The World Race was the result of another conversation. Our work in New Orleans happened when Katrina hit.
As I listened to God’s voice, he drew me deeper into a discipleship-focused ministry, beginning with our own kids. As I reflect on what advice I might give myself, I probably wouldn’t change too much about it – but I might have wanted myself to have more fun along the way.
What about you – what would you tell your 2001 self?
“Don’t fret over your life. God’s got it all planned out and He loves you no matter what you do. He loves you EVEN when you’re being nasty to people or pitying yourself. He is not looking for the moment to strike you with lightening.
Be confident in who you are. You are accepted by Jesus and that’s all that matters. You don’t have to prove yourself. Enjoy yourself! Be carefree! Stop carrying heavy burdens that God never wanted you to carry.”
Trust God. No matter what pain…brokeness….stupid choices you make or heart breaking events that happen in your life God is still in control and sovereignmmmthere to often love and healing.
I’d probably laugh and say, “Oh you just have no idea what’s to come. Enjoy the ride.”
Though I think I would also advise myself to not think so small of myself and find out my identity in Christ… that could have saved a few years (but then I’d be a different person, so maybe not…)
I’d tell my-2001-7-year-old-self, “Focus on God completely, trust Him, it’s all going to be okay, and He’s got it all figured out. So, expect your plans to change in a moment. Be flexible, and don’t be so selfish. Show love to everyone, especially your brother. And don’t give God the excuses, it’s better to just submit to God.”
I’d tell myself, “get ready girl! God’s got big things a head of you!!!”. It blow my mind to think of who I was 10 years ago and how God has been walking with me and transforming me ever since then!
I thought about this a lot, and there’s a lot I would tell myself, but sadly aside from the natural things there’s not much spiritual stuff my 18 yr old self would accept. I can be rather slow and stubborn at times (for good and for bad).
But I think if there was one really desperate message that might be able to reach out to my younger self it would probably be comprised of something along the lines of get over yourself, don’t let pain harden your heart, God is real, and His dreams are bigger than your dreams go and live them.
Funny some of these things I’m still trying to learn. Maybe I should forward this on to my future self as well 🙂
If I could tell myself something in 2001, when I was 6 years old, I would’ve probably told myself that it would all be okay, and that through all the stuff I would go through in the near future years (s/a 2004), all the cops and all the meth, would make me stronger. I would be stronger than anyone and that would never change. .. I think that’s what I would’ve told myself..
“Don’t fret over your life. God’s got it all planned out and He loves you no matter what you do. He loves you EVEN when you’re being nasty to people or pitying yourself. He is not looking for the moment to strike you with lightening.
Be confident in who you are. You are accepted by Jesus and that’s all that matters. You don’t have to prove yourself. Enjoy yourself! Be carefree! Stop carrying heavy burdens that God never wanted you to carry.”
Yep, if I could’ve I would’ve said that….
Trust God. No matter what pain…brokeness….stupid choices you make or heart breaking events that happen in your life God is still in control and sovereignmmmthere to often love and healing.
“buy apple stock”
funny, id be saying sort of the same thing to myself like you Seth. “have fun, enjoy life!”
I’d probably laugh and say, “Oh you just have no idea what’s to come. Enjoy the ride.”
Though I think I would also advise myself to not think so small of myself and find out my identity in Christ… that could have saved a few years (but then I’d be a different person, so maybe not…)
start getting up early to read the Bible every day & listen out for what God wants to say
I started doing that in January, 2003 – I coulda gotten a 2 yrs jump on things if I’d started in 2001
getting up like that is the smartest thing I’ve ever done
the dumbest thing I’ve ever done was waiting until I was 52 1/2
“Be more confident in the person you’re becoming. In fact, start acting like him now, so that you save both of us a lot of time and worrying.”
Incidentally, this is what my self from 10 years in the future would say to me today, I think.
I met AIM that year. It was on the top of a list of mission organizations. I applied and was in G-ville the next summer for training camp.
In 2001 I would have told myself to LOVE. Knowing 10 years ago that Kingdom is all about that… shoo. Thanks for teaching me, Lord!
Sale Enron stock, buy Google and Apple …..
But mostly trust that small quiet voice that says I got your back and have fun one day at a time.
I’d tell my-2001-7-year-old-self, “Focus on God completely, trust Him, it’s all going to be okay, and He’s got it all figured out. So, expect your plans to change in a moment. Be flexible, and don’t be so selfish. Show love to everyone, especially your brother. And don’t give God the excuses, it’s better to just submit to God.”
I’d tell myself, “get ready girl! God’s got big things a head of you!!!”. It blow my mind to think of who I was 10 years ago and how God has been walking with me and transforming me ever since then!
I thought about this a lot, and there’s a lot I would tell myself, but sadly aside from the natural things there’s not much spiritual stuff my 18 yr old self would accept. I can be rather slow and stubborn at times (for good and for bad).
But I think if there was one really desperate message that might be able to reach out to my younger self it would probably be comprised of something along the lines of get over yourself, don’t let pain harden your heart, God is real, and His dreams are bigger than your dreams go and live them.
Funny some of these things I’m still trying to learn. Maybe I should forward this on to my future self as well 🙂
If I could tell myself something in 2001, when I was 6 years old, I would’ve probably told myself that it would all be okay, and that through all the stuff I would go through in the near future years (s/a 2004), all the cops and all the meth, would make me stronger. I would be stronger than anyone and that would never change. .. I think that’s what I would’ve told myself..