Glad Tithings

Principles in Practice

What is Life Management?

Life Management is a phrase we've coined here at Christian Stewardship Ministries to describe the process of 1) understanding that God really does have a detailed plan for each of our lives, 2) realizing that God wants us to know much more of that plan than most of us do, and 3) learning what to do on a daily basis to implement God's plan.

Knowing and implementing God's plan for your life releases anxiety and brings freedom. If you do not have the "peace that passes understanding" on an ongoing daily basis, perhaps you have not yet discovered, or implemented, God's plan for your life. No matter what challenges you face, if you know and apply His plan, you can have peace in the very midst of your greatest trial. God guarantees the results!

If that sounds like a contradiction, it certainly is. There is no telling how God makes that work, but He does. And it works for everyone. Find out what God wants you to do, learn how God wants you to do it, and then just do it. You can have God's peace and freedom from anxiety as you walk through any challenge. You don't have to wait until the challenge is solved to have peace. Just knowing God's plan and knowing that you're going to be obedient to that plan is all that's necessary.

Let me give you a preview of what you can learn by taking our Life Management Study (LMS), either in small groups or over the Internet. You will learn how to overcome procrastination, overcommitment, and chronic tardiness. You will find out how to fit everything into 24/7 (24 hours a day, seven days a week). You will discover how to focus on the important rather than the urgent.

You will learn how to get enough sleep. You will find out how to set aside a regular quiet time with God. You will discover how to seize control of your life and stop letting circumstances and other people determine your priorities. You will find out how to deepen the quality of your primary relationships. You will learn how to say no. You will discover how to develop your relationship with God. And you will learn how to know day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute what God wants you to do with those days, hours and minutes.

Most of our Glad Tithings readers are adults, and most of the people who take our courses are adults. We're working on brand new material for students that should be ready to roll out sometime next year. Through these materials, our children will be able to learn and apply these same truths.

CSM is also launching a new radio program to teach these same concepts through on-the-air counseling. We also offer one-on-one, contribution-based counseling for anyone and everyone who is serious about wanting to know and do God's will.

One of our recent LMS students is a lady from the Midwest who described herself as "a messy," a chronic clutterbug. She is single homeschooling mom with a part-time job. She registered for the Life Management Study because her life was out of control. She knew God had a plan, but she didn't know what it was nor how to discover it. She just knew things were not as they should be, but she had not a clue what to do about it. After taking the Life Management Study, she reported that her life changed. She has gotten the clutter under control, and she has learned to say no effectively without offending anyone. She has a regular quiet time with the Creator of the Universe. She now gets sufficient sleep. She is truly a new person. While this lady is an extreme example, many graduates of the Life Management Study describe the course as "life changing" or "eye opening."

What is the fruit of CSM's ministry? Quite simply, it is changed lives. God is changing lives by by the hundreds, one by one through LMS. Written testimonies provide evidence of the Holy Spirit's renewing work through the Life Management Study and related programs and materials.

One student wrote, "Now taking the LMS class, it is wonderful to know that God can help me with my time management issues. God is good." Another said of the class, "It made me aware of so many areas such as how short my time really is and how important it is to do what the Lord wants. It showed me clearly ways that I can accomplish necessary changes."

Yet another LMS graduate said the class "helped me realize how much God cares about time management," while a fellow student noted, "I think the most helpful aspect was the shift of my attitude that my 'flexible, spontaneous' attitude was disobedient to what God has called me to do."

Do you want to be free of anxiety and unnecessary worry? If so, join us today by registering for one of our life-changing programs.

Our Board of Directors has asked me to solicit comments from members of the CSM family on the fruit we are bearing. Would you be willing to take a few minutes to drop us a line, letting us know how Christian Stewardship Ministries has made a difference in your life? Whether it's articles in Glad Tithings, an individual counseling session, a seminar attended in the past, a Life Management Study class, the Internet Life Management Study, It's About Time, a combination of any of those, or some other aspect of our ministry, we would love to hear from you. Enclosed with this issue of Glad Tithings is a response form which includes space that will make this easier for you, or you can write your own letter. Please check anything that applies.

© 2000 by Christian Stewardship Ministries, 10523 Main Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. Telephone (703) 591-5000, fax (703) 273-1795, e-mail ken@csmin.org