Oil Change - A Five Point Personal Inventory...

Not too long ago I was in the car dealership getting my vehicle checked out. I was getting ready for a long trip north. A noise or two in my car was bothering me so I decided to have it looked at. While the service mechanic is at it, he will change the oil and check all the vitals. Don?t want to have any trouble while we are on the road, you see. I want to make sure that our family is safe and we arrive in excellent condition.

When you take your car to be serviced, you never know what a checkup might reveal. There is a possibility that the mechanic will find something wrong that we were not aware of (history dictates that this is a strong possibility with my luck). Then again, everything may be in good order. Either way, when I am deep in the frigid temperatures of the north, I will be glad I took these preventive measures. It will give me confidence and peace.

It?s kind of strange the thoughts that come to ones mind in different places ? especially when you slow down long enough to allow your mind to relax. I must be relaxed, sitting here in the waiting room of the service department. Right now I am thinking how similar life is to getting my car worked on. Sounds strange, I know. Let me explain.

First, let me ask a question: Are you prepared to continue your journey of life? With the first two months of 2006 behind us, have you pulled into the ?service department? of life? This is a wonderful time for a check up, don?t you think. It just makes sense to stop every now and then to take inventory of where, what, and how we are. Unless each of us pauses from time to time to do a soul check, there is a possibility of overlooking something that is amiss in our life. Yes, it takes time and effort. However, the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience when you pull back out onto the road of life.

I encourage you to take some time in the next few weeks to allow God, the Master Mechanic of our souls, to check your vitals. It may make all the difference in the coming year. Let me give you 5 checkpoints to get you started:

Is your attitude affecting things at home or work? Do you constantly bring out the negative rather than the positive? Do you need to become intentional about choosing the positive over the negative? Are there people who are dragging you down that you need to avoid; and positive people you need to be around?

Do you know where you are going? Does your life have purpose and significance? Do you know why you are on earth? God has given everyone a plan. Do you know yours? Try the Purpose Finder under ?Free Downloads? at www.abundantlifeproject.com.

How are your relationships? Who do you need to reach out to? What conflicts to you need to try and resolve? How are things going in your family?

Are you on track financially? If you are in debt, do you have a plan to get out? Are you saving money? Are you planning for retirement? Do you have a budget? Check out the article ?Six Steps to a Debt-free Life? under free downloads at www.abundantlifeproject.com.

Are you giving something away? Are you tithing? Do you donate a portion of your services to help others? Do you volunteer your time for a good cause?

This article courtesy of http://www.oilchangetips.com.
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