Lesson 5: Have No Regrets

In Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch is living a crazy life with deadlines and ignoring the important things in life. Mitch ignores his family (dying brother), his girlfriend/wife, and his old professor (for 16 years). He avoided the things that matter most. Life is busy. Work often consumes us. It is important that our priorities are in order so that we do not regret the things we did or did not do. God should be our first priority, followed by spouse, then children, and finally work. I want no regrets when I'm older. My goal is to focus on the things that matter not the things that do not. In 1 Timothy 4:7, Paul writes: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith". These words Paul spoke carry no regrets. I want to be able to speak these words one day. Prioritizing my life now will be the first step in finishing the race. Will you be able to say this verse at the end of your life?

Lesson 4: Get Involved

In Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie tells Mitch to not "assume it is too late to get involved.” As long as you are living, you have the opportunity to get involved and make a difference in this world. Millions and millions of people are struggling through life with very little hope. They are starving for the Word of God and do not realize it. With all the natural disasters that have occured recently, more and more people are struggling to provide for basic needs. You do not have to look at the world for opportunities to help the hurting. People are hurting everywhere you come in contact with people. Hurt doesn't always show, but it exists. Jesus tells us in Matthew 9:37-38 “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Lesson 3: Forgiveness

Morrie also taught a very valuable lesson on forgiveness. "Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others." The first part of the quote focuses on forgiving yourself for not making the best of your life and missing opportunities. The other part of the quote focuses on our relationships with other people. No matter how we are wronged by one another, we are commanded by God to forgive as He forgave us. Above all we are supposed to love others and be compassionate. Paul writes in Colossians 3:12-14, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity". These are great words to live by. I've heard it said that "forgiveness provides closure".

Lesson 2: Accepting Your Past

Morrie tells Mitch to "accept the past as the past without denying it or discarding it". The past has ways to come back to the "present", but we cannot change the past or allow it to consume us. Lessons learned in our past often shape who we are today. The circumstances life has brought you or the struggles you faced in your past happened for a reason. At the time, most people do not understand why they are going through a trying time. Through reflection, we sometimes see and understand why we experienced a particular challenge. Discarding the past or not learning from it could lead to other consequences. Paul tells us in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". This verse tells us that no matter the circumstance God is working for the good if we love Him. Something good will come out of the circumstance you are facing. You may not realize it at the time or never realize it, but know that God is working.

Lesson 1: Accepting your abilities

Morrie discusses the importance to accept the abilities you have been given. Do not be envious or jealous of others gifts. If everyone had the same gifts, many things would not be able to be accomplished. Each one of us are designed for a purpose. We each have different gifts that we should use to serve others. We have human limitations, but we are reminded that when we are weak, God is strong. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:10, "That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong". Weaknesses and limitations in our life will come when serving others. God promises to provide and give us the things we need to serve others and Him. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul discusses how each person makes up and is important to the body of Christ through the different gifts that each of us have. "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work". This passage is so true. The gifts we are granted should all be used to worship and serve the same God.

Five Lessons from Mitch and Morrie

In the book Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom does a great job of recording the last months of Morrie Schwartz's life. On their Tuesday meetings, Morrie would share many life lessons with Mitch. These lessons can be applied to each of our lives. The book is thought provoking and allows the reader to examine their own life. The next five posts will focus on five of the many lessons Mitch learns from Morrie. I will apply these five lessons to the Christian walk.


Lesson 1: Accepting Your Abilities (Posting Date: 4/22/2011)

This blog post will focus on 1 Corinthians 12. Each one of us are designed for a purpose. We each have different gifts that we are to use to serve others.

Lesson 2: Accepting Your Past (Posting Date: 4/24/2011)

This blog post will focus on Romans 8:28. We have all faced circumstances and events in our lives that we do not understand the reasons went through the experience.

Lesson 3: Forgiveness (Posting Date: 4/26/2011)

This blog post will focus on Colossians 3:12-14. No matter how we are wronged by one another, we are commanded by God to forgive as He forgave us.

Lesson 4: Get Involved (Posting Date: 4/28/2011)

This blog post will focus on Matthew 9:37-38. Millions and millions of people are struggling through life with very little hope. They are starving for the Word of God.

Lesson 5: Have No Regrets (Posting Date: 4/30/2011)
This blog post will focus on 2 Timothy 4:7. Will you be able to say this verse at the end of your life?

The Three A's of Awesome--Authenticity

What does it mean to be authentic? One word that comes to mind is "real". Throughout our lifetime, we have probably seen fake products. A purse or shirt looked like the real thing, but was actually fake. If you work in retail, you may have had the experience of seeing fake money. Christians must make sure that they are not leading a "fake" life. In Revelations 3:15-16, Jesus said, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth". It is clear that Jesus is not happy with a lukewarm Christian. In fact, it makes Him sick. A lukewarm Christian hurts Christ's kingdom the most. One who acts like an authentic Christian, but still lives "in the world" is detrimental to the work of God. We must strive to live more and more like Christ each day. We will fail, but praise Him for His grace, mercy, and love.