Part 1
Seminar Overview
In the book Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late, Dr. Morgan shares ten biblical patterns for pleasantly productive people. These strategies have proven to be effective in Dr. Morgan’s own life and ministry. They can also impact your life—at any age or stage.
The pages of the Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late book are filled with carefully chosen illustrations, anecdotes and scriptural references. You will want to have your own personal copy of the book that can be perused with pen in hand—marking particular points and portions of the text that speak to your heart. As you apply these simple but profound principles, you will learn to master life the Master’s way!
A Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late study guide has been developed as a supplemental resource for the book. It may be purchased through the Robert J. Morgan website along with the book. The Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late Video Openers included in this seminar are also available for purchase in DVD format.
Click here to view and purchase Mastering Life Resources.
Listen to a Twelve-Year-Old
This first pattern is explained in the first three chapters of Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late:
(1) First Words, Last Words—Our Stencil for Success
(2) Just for Today
(3) The Most Pleasant Life Anyone Can Live
Excerpts from the text:
“The secret to being effective, efficient, and effervescent is this biblical truth: God has a specific purpose for our lives, and when we turn aside from all else to follow God’s plan, we synchronize with the sacred.”
“We may not be able to contend with a decade all at once, or joust with a year, or even manage a month. But we can tackle today. Just for today we can be pleasantly productive. Just for today we can be faithful. Just for today we can resist temptation. Just for today we can choose to be joyful and to live for Jesus. Just for today we can be about the Father’s business.”
“You may be the hardest-working, most productive person in the world, but if you’re not living on purpose, you’re caught in a relentless drift. If you’re doing the wrong things, it’s a life poorly spent.”
Redeem the Time
This second pattern is explained in the next four chapters (4-7) of Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late:
(4) Life is Just a Minute
(5) The Bible’s Twin Texts on Time
(6) Living Clockwise
(7) Gather the Fragments That Remain
Excerpts from the text:
“Until we appreciate the value of time and learn to manage it with skill, we can never manage ourselves.”
“When we’re about our Father’s business, we’re to number our days, for life is swift; we’re to redeem the time for the days are evil. But in God’s perfectly designed plan, there is always enough work for the days He has given us, and exactly enough days for the work He has assigned.”
“It only takes a moment to hug a loved one, to write a thank-you note, to scan an article, to read a paragraph, to whisper a prayer, to wash a dish, to file a paper, to smile at a stranger, to cuddle a baby, to rest your eyes, to conceive an idea, to learn the next word of a verse, to straighten a pillow, to text a message of encouragement.”
Clear the Decks
This third pattern is explained in the next three chapters (8-10) of Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late:
(8) God is Not Disorganized—Why Are You?
(9) Put Your Tray Tables in Their Upright Positions
(10) Don’t Be Listless
Excerpts from the text:
“My primary point isn’t to tell you to be organized or how to achieve it. Lots of books and articles do that…The contribution I’d like to make to the discussion is to emphasize why we crave an organized life. It’s because our Creator is organized in His very nature, and He has built efficient organizational structures and systems into all He has done.”
“Too much organization becomes counterproductive because we can’t keep it up. Everything should be done with minimal complexity and maximum simplicity”
“We can’t remember all the things we need to do. We can’t intuitively do them in the proper sequence or priority. We need checklists—some way of recording our obligations, thoughts, ideas, tasks, and everything else that weighs on our minds.”
Maximize the Morning
This fourth pattern is explained in the next four chapters (11-14) of Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late:
(11) Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun
(12) Our First Appointment Each Day
(13) Before Leaving the Presence
(14) Try the Fifteen-Minute Plan
Excerpts from the text:
“The most important thing about our day is beginning it with a spirit of doxology. If we get started on the right foot, we’ll be ahead of the game all day long.”
“Your ‘morning devotions’ might happen during the lunch hour, at bedtime, or at some other regular spot on your daily agenda…The timing is flexible, but the habit isn’t…”
“The Lord is more concerned about our walk with Him than our work for Him. Don’t miss another day of fellowship with the Father…Plan ahead. Find a place…you have an appointment to keep. The God of the universe will be waiting on you, so don’t be late.”
Pull Off at Rest Stops
This fifth pattern is explained in the next three chapters (15-17) of Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late:
(15) Make Wise Withdrawals
(16) Take Heed to Yourself
(17) Only Do What Only You Can Do
Excerpts from the text:
“Some people burn their candles at both ends; others burn their ends at both candles. In either case, the light goes out.”
“Most of the world works hard so they can enjoy their leisure. Christians enjoy their leisure so they can work hard. That’s not just a turn of a phrase; it’s a totally different perspective on life.”
“When we take the day off, we’re denying ourselves the indulgences of fear and ambition, giving them to God and accepting His rest in return.”
“You can’t do everything. Do what you should, delegate what you can, and trust God with the rest.”