Our talk series, STAGES: Finding God Where You Are, is about  the various phases of life and how one may know and feel the Presence of God in each of those stages.

The first episode we talked about the first stage: Explore.  and it is all about the first 20 years of your life, and its purpose is to explore, to discover who you are—specifically, your calling, your values, and your identity. The key message is God is right here, right now.

Now, we are now on our Second Stage:   The next 20 years—from 20 to 40 years old—and its purpose is to expand your life.  In this stage, you develop your calling, your craft, and as always, your character.  You also enter into new territories. 

But here’s a warning: When you expand, you’ll meet push back.  You’ll face resistance. The key message: “God fights your battles.”

Lesson:  Let God do the fighting for you. If it’s a battle that you should fight, remember that God fights your battles BESIDE you.  If it’s a battle that you should avoid, stand and watch because God fights your battles FOR you. But in both scenarios, remember: God fights your battles. And you shall have the victory

Our talk series, STAGES: Finding God Where You Are, is about  the various phases of life and how one may know and feel the Presence of God in each of those stages.

First stage: the first 20 years of your life and it's purpose is to EXPLORE and our big message is to discover who you are—specifically, your calling, your values, and your identity.  

Reflection: Have I become more patient?  More kind?  More courageous?  More compassionate?  More generous?  More humble?

Big message: Humility

God wants to move you

The Power of God is in YOU 

 Set Up Yourself For Change

That’s the key: Set up yourself for change. Set up your world so that it’s difficult not to change.

Your set-up means how you pre-arrange your environment.

I highlight two things in your environment…

1. People

Obviously, the first thing you pre-arrange are the people you hang-out with. Paul says,Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”(1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV). 

2. Perspectives

Your environment also includes the stuff you read, watch, and listen, all of which impact your perspectives. Heed the Word when it says, “But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”(1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 ESV).  Here’s the first question: Are there books, programs, and photos that are evil? 

Pre-Design Your Environment

There’s a new buzz word I hear a lot today: Curate. I hear it everywhere. It’s become popular because people are overwhelmed with the endless choices given to them. So they want experts to curate their choices for them.Curate means to“organize a collection of items where each item is pre-designed, pre-selected, and pre-arranged to produce a specific experience”.

Friend, I believe God has given you the power to curate your kingdom. You have the power to curate your friendships, your schedule, your activities, your itinerary, your values—so that everything is a set-up for victory. Set up your world so that it will be difficult not to grow.  Give your kingdom to the King.

 If you want to get rid of bad habits, you need to get real. You need to stop your alibis, your excuses, your lies. You need to admit, “I’m totally helpless. I need help from God.” 

Why did Jesus reenact the fall? To help Peter come face to face with his failure, get real, admit his sin, and be humble for God. To help Peter submit to God.

Let me circle back to our key passage: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 ESV).  To trust in God’s Leadership, you need humility.  To have the capacity to receive His Love, you need humility. You keep changing, you need humility.

Declare it: “Because of Jesus, I’m selfless.” 

  Every God-Follower Must Have

Open yourself more to His power.

How? Create these 4 essential habits into your life:

1. The Habit of Prayer

Spend daily time with the Center of your Life, if He’s really the Center. Commune with Him. Let Him fill you with His love. 

People think I pray 3 hours a day. Not true. (They also think I levitate and chat with Moses and Elijah every 3am.) I pray a few minutes every morning, and at different times during the day, I keep connecting with God. 

2. The Habit of Meditating The Word

Chew on Scriptures. Many are spiritually malnourished. Because Jesus said, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 NIV)

Use the Daily Mass Readings. (Use Companion or Didache or Gabay to guide you on what to read.)

3. The Habit of Serving The Church

Make the Feast your priority in your weekly schedule. And join a Light Group or a Feast Light or ministry. Journey with fellow God-Followers. The Bible says, Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer. (Hebrews 10:25 GNT)

4. The Habit of Sharing God’s Love

Wake up each morning and become God’s Love in this world. When people experience you, let them experience Jesus. Care. Give. Serve. And tell people about Him.

You are a leader!