Live It Articles On the way... but not there yet

"...it has not appeared as yet what we shall be." I John 3:2b [NAS]

"What will become of you?" has been sighed by many a frustrated teacher with more than one exasperating student. In moments of frustration it is easy to think what is being experienced at the moment is a sure sign of what is to come - and the future does not look too promising. Brief moments of time may be a snapshot of a persons life but do not necessarily tell the whole story.

Our oldest son grew taller than most of his friends when he was in elementary school and he excelled in sports. I frequently reminded him to be careful not to "gloat" because this may not be how it would always be. He wondered why I was so "negative" about his physical future. I said," look at your friends dads and look at your dad in comparison." All of his friends' fathers were much taller than I am and several of them ranged from 6'2" to 6'6". As they approached adolescence they all outgrew my son and several matched their fathers heights! GENETICS was my source of confidence for my prediction and my reason for developing "humility" in my son.

Much of who we are is due to our genetics, parenting and personal choices. "Like Father like son." "Doesn't she look like her mother?" "No one in our family has ever..."

"What will become of us?" is a great question to ask as we begin a new year. It can be answered in many of the same ways as questions of a child about their physical future.

    • Genetics - spiritually who is our Father?
    • Parents - who is influencing us?
    • Choices - what decision am I making that make a difference?

Review this past year. 2003 New Years Day until today - have you become more of what you hoped or less? If more, then stay on track and keep the destination in focus. If less, do something now.

• RENEW your sensitivity to Spiritual things. seek more from your First Place Bible Study than just filling in blanks. ask "Father what would you have me learn/change today?" God desires a personal relationship with you - listen.
• SEEK out people and groups that encourage honesty, positive attitudes, and grace. be sure that you are an encourager in your First Place group. show up with the expectation that someone is going to celebrate a victory.
• PUT in place some "doable" goals. if you are not   physically where you want to be then make measurable steps to achieve them. if you lost one pound a week for one year you would be 50 pounds lighter in January 2005! Reasonable exercise and faithfully following the "Live It" eating plan will pay great dividends for this coming year.
• MAKE goals that are more than life altering - do something dramatic - make them life changing. get in shape for the right reasons - not for others approval but because you want to have all things under the Lordship of Christ!

Make a New Years Revolution...don't settle for the easy [which usually does not challenge us and therefore sets us up for failure.] We are not what we will be - but thank God we are not what we use to be. Children of the Father have His character and power in them. When we don't "Live It" we are not living up to our "birthright" potential. Godliness is what happens when we let our spiritual genetics go to work within us.

Dr. Bill Heston
University Chaplain,
Howard Payne University
Brownwood, Texas


Dr. William Heston was minister of pastoral care at Houston's First Baptist Church; clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and a marriage therapist licensed by the state of Texas. He has also led seminars at First Place Conferences.