Messages

Alvin Toffler said: “The illiterate of the future will not be those who can’t read or write. The illiterate of the future will be those who can’t learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Unlearning is perhaps the hardest part of this equation.

Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14: “I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal yet. But, I continue trying to reach it, although I know that I still have a long way to go. Nevertheless, there is one thing that I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine. I do this by forgetting those things which are behind me, while reaching for those things which are ahead of me.”

Toffler says that the future belongs to those who can:

• Learn
• Unlearn 
• Relearn

However, he goes on to say that unlearning is the probably the most difficult part of this equation. In other words— understanding how it’s going to work now is not going to be possible until we unlearn or “forget” how it has worked in the past. In order to have a conversation of a different future, we must learn, unlearn and relearn. However, we can’t truly relearn, until we first unlearn what doesn’t any longer exist or work.

In life *(emotionally, physically and spiritually) and in business we must develop what I call a forgetful reach. In other words, we must reach forward while forgetting those things that are holding you back, or that are hindering you.

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A Forgetful Reach…

1. Reaches for what matters and forgets about what doesn’t matter.

2. Remembers what needs to be remembered and forgets what needs to be forgotten.

3. Let’s go of what’s behind and reaches for what’s ahead.

4. Focuses on things that will lift you up, not on things that will drag you down.

5. Doesn’t rehearse; what it’s trying to forget.

6. Releases what needs released, so it can receive what needs to be received.

7. Doesn’t just see things the way they are; it sees things they way they can be—different!

Toffler says that the future will belong to those who can learn, unlearn, and relearn. And Paul says that the future is better navigated and experienced when we forget the things of the past that are negative and that hinder us from a brighter future.

Therefore, in order to grow we must—forget the past and those things that no longer work— we must Learn, unlearn and relearn.

The Why , The What and the How

The “why” is always more important than the “what” or the “how.” However, most of the time we tend to focus on the “what”, more than we do the “why” or the “how.”

As leaders we usually lead with the “what.” We always say this is what we are going to do. This is “how” we are going to do “what” we are going to do and this is what’s going to happen if we don’t do it a certain way or time frame. Nothing wrong with that, but if we’re not careful we can lose sight of the “why.”

We also talk about “how” we’re going to accomplish the “what”, but again, we spend very little time talking about the “why.” Even as people we talk about, “what” I’m going to do. And this is “how” I’m going to do “what” I’m going to do. 

But, we forget the “why.” However, I think if we would lead with and focus on the “why” then the “what” would be accomplished with great pride and purpose. It would be a byproduct of the “how”’and the “why.”

I also believe that if we spent more time focusing on the “why” we would have more peace, value and self-worth. The blessing would be a blessing and not a burden. 

The “why” has formed, founded and driven by guiding principles in the word: do everything as unto to the Lord, and do unto others as you have them do unto you,  and lastly, our guiding principle: let everything that you do, be down in love. In other words, it’s not just about me, it’s about “calling” and “purpose.” It’s about doing things like I would want them to be done if I were personally involved in the equation. And lastly, because I love what I do and I love those that I serve, it will reflect in how I do things. When this happens the “how” and the “what” become a byproduct of the “why.”

The “why” is the most important part of the equation. Don’t allow the “why” to get lost in the “how” and in the “what.” The “why” is what should drive everything that we do and everything that we do should be done in love. Do what you love and love what you do! Why is the why so important? Because the “why” is what will keep you going when you feel like quitting.

excerpts from Rick Warren Daily Hope

We can’t be so now focused that we aren’t prepared for the future, but we also can’t be so future focused that we miss the moment and opportunities of today. 

Investment is giving into something now for a return later. Nevertheless, you must invest as much into an existing today as you do into an unknown tomorrow.

Don’t miss today.

Don’t fret over tomorrow.

And, don’t regret over the past. 

Instead… 

LEARN FROM THE PAST.

LIVE IN THE PRESENT.

LAY OUT A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

The good thing about the future is that it doesn’t hit us all at once. If you could see every event in your entire life (good and bad) laid out ahead of you, it would no doubt be overwhelming. So maybe that’s why God gives it to us in bite-size, 24-hour segments.

Since God gives you only one day at a time, that’s how he expects you to approach your life. Live it one day at a time, and make it count.

Jesus taught: “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34 NLT)

Is Jesus actually saying, to stop borrowing trouble. If there’s something happening next week, don’t mess up today by worrying about it?

Worry can’t change the past. It can’t control the future. Worry only makes you miserable today.

God gives you all the grace you need—but just enough for today, every day. He doesn’t stockpile all that power in your life and give it to you for the next week or month. As a matter of fact, He says to pray like this, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 ESV) 

He wants you to take life one day at a time.

When you don’t know what the future holds, you can still take life one day at a time. That’s all you are meant to do!

When everything is uncertain and you don’t know how to make wise decisions for the future, then just take care of today. It’s important to plan, pray, and trust God for the future, but he also expects you to put your energy into making today count too.

A great way to do this is to focus instead on the things that truly matter and the things that God loves and cares about. That’s how you make today count.

God doesn’t want you to worry about tomorrow, but he doesn’t want you to consider it a guarantee either. 

Here’s what Proverbs 27:1 in the MSG says, “Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow, or what it may hold.” 

When everything else in life seems unclear, this verse is about as clear as you can get.

Plan for tomorrow, but live for today. God will give you everything that you need to be obedient in both.

3 THINGS TO LIVE BY:

1. LIVE IN THE PRESENT AND MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY MOMENT.
2. DON’T TAKE LIFE OR YOURSELF TOO SERIOUS.
3. ALWAYS BE A WORK IN PROGRESS THAT IS ALWAYS GROWING AND EVER LEARNING.