1. Winter Spiritual Survival Guide The Life: Practical Insights to Christian Living December 7, 2001

2. The here and the now Most of us can’t wait to be home Stress levels are a bit on the higher end Term papers and projects are finishing up Finals are right around the corner On the edge of burnout Can’t wait ‘til its over! Can’t wait ‘til its over!! Can’t wait ‘til its over!!!

3. The winter hopes What being home means Not being at MIT Being comfortable Rest & relaxation Home cooked meals Laundry service Christmas presents Doting parents

4. The winter blues? But, then again, you may be leaving your primary spiritual community Perhaps your parents aren’t Christians You don’t really talk with your parents or friends back home about the “deep” stuff Or, you’ve grown in God being with other people who are serious about their faith A vacation from everything, even God

5. Sinking, surviving or thriving? While on vacation, you don’t have to just spiritually survive the winter Your vacation time is a great opportunity to grow closer to God. “His commands are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3. “Train yourself to be godly.” 1 Ti. 4:7

6. A winter of training, not trying “Trying hard can accomplish only so much. If you are serious about seizing this chance of a lifetime, you will have to enter into a life of training… There is an immense difference between training to do something and trying to do something” John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted

7. 7 practical ways to thrive Be grateful (cf. 2 Ti 3:2) Look for ways God loves you Write down 5 things a day about what you are thankful for Thank God himself when you see something that’s great

8. 7 practical ways to thrive Reconnect with others in God (Hb 10:24) Find a church or fellowship that will help you grow while you’re away Make an effort to talk about spiritual things with your friends or family

9. 7 practical ways to thrive Begin holy habits Spent time with God: reading the Bible and praying. Set up devotional schedule with friends. Use a Christian devotional. My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

10. 7 practical ways to thrive Feed the mind Prayer, by Richard Foster Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster The Life You’ve Always Wanted, by John Ortberg Inside Out, by Larry Crabb What’s So Amazing about Grace? Or The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey

11. 7 practical ways to thrive Give of yourself (Lk 10:27-37) Volunteer at a soup kitchen Volunteer at church Serve the community

12. 7 practical ways to thrive Honor your parents (Eph. 6:2) Easier for some than others Serving: do some chores without being asked Relationship: start to talk with them as a friend, sharing your life with them

13. 7 practical ways to thrive Keep in touch (Hb 10:23-25) Talk, email, ICQ with the people that you connected with while here in college Share struggles with each other If you can’t find anyone to grow with at home, at least you still have your friends

14. 7 practical ways to thrive Be grateful Reconnect with others in God Begin holy habits Feed the mind Give of yourself Honor your parents Keep in touch

15. The winter’s prayer “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11.