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A Letter From Me To Me Introduction: Question I was recently asked went something like this, "If you could today write a letter to yourself, that you could have read when you were 17, what would it say?" I know it is a hypothetical question and we have to be careful of "silly" questions, but there are some things we learn that we wish we had known earlier. I don't mean things like, "Buy Wal-Mart Stock when it first went public", or "Invent post-it notes and make millions of dollars." But things that really matter. I) Do Not Be In A Hurry But Use Your Time Wisely A) Often we what to get some place else in our life besides where we are at 1. Want to get out of school, get your own place, have your own money, get married, etc. 2. Eventually you will get out of school, get your own car, place, job, etc. Such is not productive for you have to be where you are at now. Ecc. 3.1-8, 11 3. Where we are at tomorrow is determined by what you do today. B) Use your time wisely now because it will pay off later 1. Do not neglect what you have today, Ephesians 5.15-17. 2. Today is important for it determines what will happen tomorrow. a. Choose who will serve today, Joshua 24.15 b. Today is the day of salvation, 2 Corinthians 6.2 C) Use your time wisely because you cannot turn back the hands of time. II) Do Not Worry About the Small Stuff -- See The Big Picture A) Most of today's problems do not matter 1. We worry about what other people think about us when they are not thinking about us at all. 2. We worry about our jobs when there is another one out there. 3. Most of the things we worry about will either never happen or cannot be avoided anyway, Matthew 6.31-34. B) The Big Picture is 1. Money is temporary and soon be spent, Phil. 4.11 2. Family is important, do not forget it. But God is more important. 3. Death is permanent, Hebrews 9.27 4. Your soul is more valuable than anything else you possess. Treat it like it. 5. Friends are hard to find but worth the effort. Proverbs 27.9-10 III) Do Not Get Discouraged: There Will Be More Blessings Than You Can Imagine A) Obeying the Gospel was the best thing you ever did, although there may be times you will wonder 1. It will change the way you live your life and what you will do for a living. 2. There will be struggles but remember point 2 above. 1 Peter 4.16 B) You will meet a lot of Christians who are fantastic people 1. One will be a strawberry farmer in Florida who will tell you a story about "Oscar the Alligator". 2. When times are tough they will stand by your side in fighting for the truth. They will also be there when you need their help. 3. Try to return the favor by being there for them. C) You will meet someone special and get married, Proverbs 18.22 1. So don't worry about it. Make up your mind your want to marry someone who will help you go to heaven. Look for a good helper and you will find her. 2. Enjoy your time as a single and watch what you say about the "Thompson girls" you will marry one of them. D) You will have children and they will be great 1. A lot more fun than you thought but also tiring. 2. Remember the earlier point about not being in a hurry to get some place else. IV) Say I Love You When People Can Still Hear It A) A lot of people you thought would live forever will die, James 4.14 1. Grandparents are older and will probably die first -- listen to them talk about the old days. 2. Parents will grow older, talk to them. 3. Value your time with your friends for some of them will also die. B) Do not hold grudges and do not wait until tomorrow to take care of sin V) There Will Be Some Heartaches, That Is Where You Will Need God and Others A) Life is sometimes hard but you can and will endure those hardships. 1. Everyone eventually dies and you cannot stop it, but it still hurts. 2. So go back to point 4 and remember it. B) But those heartaches will eventually get easier to deal with. 1. Time does heal wounds. 2. Remember James 1.2ff. 3, Some people blame God for bad things, others rely on him. I have never seen anyone become happy when they blame God, but I have seen people overcome their trials when they rely on God. Conclusion: Of course the advice I would give myself still applies today. Do not be in a hurry but use your time wisely; Don't worry about the small stuff but see the big picture; there will be more blessings than you can imagine so don't get discouraged; say I love you when people can still hear it; there will be more heartaches and I will need God and others in the future.
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