Epworth United Methodist Student Ministries

3077 Valleyview Drive     Toledo Ohio 43615       419.531.4236

Students With A Task  

Service Worship Accountability Teamwork

                  Ponder this..... October 23, 2007

15 Minutes - Take out the Trash - Do your own dishes

So what do 15 minutes, taking out the trash and doing your own dishes have to do with each other?

They are all about habits.  That's right ---- habits.  

Habits are defined as things we do so often that we do them automatically, without even thinking about them.  Yet habits are very powerful things --- bad habits can produce unbelievable pain and good habits can create lasting blessings.    Ben Franklin told us that we "are and will become the product of your habits... for better or worse".

So how do we develop great habits that cultivate the very best that God wants from us?  What practices do we need to live the life that God intends for you?  Let's examine the first three habits that will greatly impact your life...... that is, if they become your habits!

Habit #1 --- 15 Minutes

In today's world it is so easy to become self-centered and only to be concerned about yourself.  You often hear one individual asking another, "so you think you're the center of the universe?"  But none of us are the center of the universe --- the reality of life is that it is not about us!  I know that may be a huge shock to some..... but we need to come to grip with that fact.  In the dining hall at YMCA Camp Storer, there is a well placed sign above the entrance door. It says, "God first, Others second, Me last". 

The gospel of Matthew, 6:33 says, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." 

A huge secret of life --- although it's not really a secret --- is that we are not defined by what we do, but rather who made us.  We are a child of God.  Yet we just get too busy with the busyness of life -- our jobs, our school, activities and sports that consume our life ....... we run and run and run and never take time to have a daily appointment with God.  I think that societal standards push us into thinking that it's all about what we do........rather than who we become.  To Do or to BE?

We often hear youth and parents say that they don't hear or sense the presence of God in their life.  Perhaps we are so busy, so overly busy that we don't have the time or we don't take the time to see, hear and experience the grace, mercy and presence of God.  We put everything on our daily and weekly calendar -- things to do, places to go, meetings with this person and that person ad infinitum --- but do we make it a point and purpose in our life to have a daily meeting with God? 

Hence Habit #1 is 15 minutes...........  Will you commit just 15 minutes a day in your busyness to pray and listen to God, to read God's word in the Bible and to reflect on where God is in your life?  To reflect on where you are going with God?  To reflect on what God wants you to do?  To reflect on how you are using your God given gifts?

My personal experience has taught me that if I don't put God first into my life, each and everyday, without exception, that my day gets so hectic and so busy that God gets left out.  How about you -- does God get left out of your life on most days?

Set your alarm clock for 15 minutes earlier and spend quiet time with God at the start of the day --- or put that 15 minute appointment with God somewhere in your daily schedule ---- but this needs to occur daily without fail, without excuse, without putting it off until tomorrow.  Habit #1 deals with the Principle of Priority.   Put God first ---  15 Minutes a Day!

Habit #2 -- Take out the Trash!

No this isn't really about who takes the trash out to the curb for weekly refuse pickup.  Although it is very interesting how few teenagers actually do this weekly household chore versus their parents --- but that's a whole different topic.

In today's world --- there are tons of "trash" influences in our life --- just reflect on the messages we are bombarded with from magazines, newspapers, movies, television, and the internet to mention just a few.  Our teenagers are bombarded so much with trash that it's nearly impossible for them to differentiate between the good, the bad and the horrible.  We become desensitized ........ just look at the most popular tv programs and the "values of life" they portray.  What's the old saying about looking for love in all the wrong places.  Look at the increase in alcoholic, pornography and drug addictions in our entire society --- not just among teenagers but also with adults. 

Romans 12:2 tells us, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

But here's the catch to Habit #2 -- Taking out the Trash.   There is only one person who can take the trash out of your life.  It's you.  You have to turn off, turn out and refuse to let the trash stay in your life.  If you keep a daily 15 minute appointment with God as examined in Habit #1 --- the values and guidance from God will help you discern the very best that God wants for you.  Again --- Habit #2 is Taking out the Trash in your life ---- it's actually about the Principle of Transformation.  Taking the trash out of your life allows you to transform your life ---- but if you leave the trash in your life, just like the weekly garbage not taken to the curb for pickup, it will start to decay and smell and will prevent you from smelling and enjoying the freshness of the life that God intends for you!

Habit #3 -- Do your Own Dishes!

What often occurs in a sporting event when a foul is called or someone is kicked out of game, is that they want to blame the ref --- it was a bad call --- the ref is old and blind. This too occurs in life as we often make excuses and blame others for our misfortunes.    Doing your own Dishes deals with the Principle of Responsibility.  Luke 16:10 says, "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much." 

This habit is about taking responsibility for ourself.  It's about not blaming others for the valleys in our life.  It's about taking responsibility for not studying for a test sufficiently in time and effort rather than blaming the teacher for a bad test.  It's about taking responsibility for committing the personal foul ---- not blaming the ref for your poor sportsmanship. It's about driving the speed limit rather than being mad at the police officer. 

Doing your own dishes is about taking responsibility for your daily appointment with God rather than saying you're too busy, or for allowing things to be placed in priority in front of your relationship with God.

Don't let the dirty dishes pile up in your sink and expect someone else to put them in the dishwasher.   Habit #3 -- Do your own dishes, take full responsibility for your life -- for your relationship with your creator, for your relationship with others, for success in everything you do.  It starts with YOU.  It ends with YOU.  Habit #3 is about YOU!

15 Minutes --- Taking out Your Trash --- Doing Your Own Dishes

Again my friends --- habits are very powerful things --- bad habits can produce unbelievable pain and good habits can create lasting blessings.   You ARE and WILL BECOME the product of your habits.

Action point:  Which Habit do you need to work on the most? 

                15 Minutes Daily

                Taking out the Trash

                Doing your own Dishes

Next we'll be examining Habits that involve the Principle of Clarity (Proverbs 20:5), the Principle of Inertia (Proverbs 24:30-34) and the Principle of Restoration (Hebrews 4:9-11).

7th and 8th Graders --- 6:00pm Sunday in Epworth's Family Life Center for Junior Varsity SWAT. 

Senior High --- 7:30pm in Epworth's Family Life Center for Varsity SWAT.

                                We'll be there..... will you?