What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?

I saw this title on a YouTube real estate channel that I watch fairly regularly. I thought about what I would say to an 18 year old Mike Jewell. I didn't think too long about that subject, though maybe I should so as to be able to communicate with my grand kids.

However, a conversation with my younger self is just a dream talk. Because it can't happen nor can it change anything. I think that it might be better to talk to my old self. That talk can still yield some positive impact and might even help the younger members of my family in the process.

So, what would I say to my current version Mike? Focus on the goal. That goal is to be more like Christ everyday. Forget what is in the past that didn't have a positive effect on your walk with Jesus. Spend time in the word of God on a daily basis. Don't just read to read, though that will happen sometimes. Read to see Christ in every part of the scriptures. It is possible because he is the focus throughout.

Plan for the future like James told his readers to plan. "Say, if the Lord wills I will do this or that." I once told my mom, after she scolded me for not saying the above phrase, "I don't care if it's the Lord's will or not! I'm not doing it!" I almost got smacked in the head. Kids say the cutest things. That wasn't cute, however. God's will must be my will and yours.

Planning for the future is not a bad thing. It is prudent. However, don't hyperventilate over how things are going to turn out. Remember always that God is in control and he is taking care of all the details. He wants moldable clay not rock heads or rock hearts.

Look for opportunities to help others. It is so rewarding to see God work his work through you. When God opens up an opportunity to help and you do just that, it is what the Bible calls, "being a servant". Jesus went so far as to say that when we help others, we are helping him (Matthew 25:40).

Enjoy life. Remember that you don't have to do everything and that if you were to die today, life would go on, for the most part, normally. You would be missed for sure, but life would go on. You can take it easy at times. It's not a sin to take a trip and see different stuff. Laugh, play and spend intimate time with your family. You won't regret that time invested.

Watch your P's and Q's! I don't know what P's and Q's are but you know what I mean. Behave yourself. Be polite and careful about what you say and do. Don't hurt people's feelings. Laugh with those who laugh and be ready to cry when they are crying. Contrary to what some people think, real men do cry! Don't be so tough that you don't. Another thing, real men embrace too. Don't be ashamed to hug when one is needed.

Go to church! Not just any old church mind you. Go where the preacher loves God and his Word. Church should be 90% of your social activity. Bass your family life around the ministries of your church. Set the example here. Be involved with your whole family in church. It is not a "fortress" mentality it is what good Christian people do. We go to church to learn ever more about God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Those are some of the most important things that I would emphasize to a younger me. What would you say to a younger you?

Daughter and dog...

About six months ago we discovered that Ann was pregnant and were very excited for she and Jackson. We will have babies on this side and that of the Atlantic. We weren't prepared for that news and we we were even less prepared for the news that our little dog is pregnant. To date we have spent more on the dog than on Annie (don't tell her... Ann that is). Ann has yet to discover whether her baby is a boy or girl. Both ultrasound images were inconclusive. Though I did some further investigation of my own and was startled with what I found. to me it looks as if the baby is definitely a boy and has some resemblance from both sides of the family. Take a look for yourself and let me know what you think.

God’s Orchestration

I love to see the Lord work His Salvation miracles. His works are Master Pieces of sweet music. They are arrangements that only He can make happen. Two weeks ago I began my second attempt at cello lessons. I had tried the instrument about five years ago and found my fingers so rusty and decrepit that I had given up after just a few months. So, why my second go? Here’s one short and sweet story. There is a youg man that works with Alexandre at school. He teaches music and is a musical genius. At sixteen he began a city wide music program to train young musicians in Sorocaba. Recently he has worked with two deaf children and has been able to teach them to play violin using a method that he developed. There doesn’t seem to be an instrument that he cannot play. His seventeen year old wife also plays the flute and is studying nursing. They are a very young but very sharp couple. In a conversation after the recent Recital Junior convinced me that it would be a good idea for me to take up...

Abs of Steel with Glasses

Have you ever wondered why Clark Kent always took his glasses off before he turned into Superman? I hadn’t ever thought about it either until this last Saturday when I almost got sucker-punched. Wellington, one of my spunky Juniors, wanted to wrestle. He feigned a punch to my gut and I said, “Go ahead. I have abs of steel!” I think that my gym visits might be going to my head because my abs of steel are buried under a healthy layer of blubber. I have improved my six-pack but it is far from chiseled. It looks more like a quarter of a keg. Anyway, quick as a wink and with near lightening speed Wellington said, “Yeah but up here is made of glass!” as his poke went within a hair’s breadth of my glasses! I belly-laughed. His rapid reflexes and wit had caught me by surprise. And what he said was so true and funny. It was an excellent though brief lesson. I often prepare for an oncoming fray. I get ready, set and then “BLAM”! The proverbial punch comes from a totally different direction. ...

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