1. Have fun every day. Ephesians 6:3 “My hope is… that all may go well with you and that you may enjoy life on the earth."
2. Notice if you are more like a Tigger or an Eyeore and try to be more like Tigger. Philippians 4:4-9 covers much of these things. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
3. Never lose your child-like wonder with the world. Jesus shocked the disciples when he said, “Let the little children come to me…. And you must become like a little child to enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mark 10:15 “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
4. Help others. Love your neighbor as yourself.
5. Tell the Truth. Jesus said,” The truth will set you free!” Jesus called himself the truth. Truth telling is very important in the Bible. Psalm 34:13 “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.”
6. Never give up. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
7. Apologize when you screw up. Dr. Pausch says a good apology has three three parts: “I’m sorry.” Then turn away from doing it again (repentance). And then say, “What can I do to make it better?” Matthew 18:35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Luke 17:3 “So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.”
8. Focus on others and not on yourself. Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” James 3:16 “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
9. Show gratitude. Psalm 100 is great to memorize to show your gratitude to God! Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Dr. Pausch says: “It’s not about achieving your dreams, it is about how you live your life…. You can’t control the hand you were dealt. But you can control how you play the game.”
So how would you add to this or what might you say if this was your Last Lecture? What parting words of wisdom would you want to share with your loved ones?
Benediction:
Deuteronomy 30: 20 “My hope for you is that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life.”
Hold Fast to God, and have no anxiety about anything. Know that the peace of God is within your grasp if you keep His commandments and love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind and then go out to love your neighbor as yourself.
Now May the Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, The Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit Hold Fast to you and give you Peace now and forever more.
