It's Only Time

Why are people always in a hurry. Always running behind as usual. Is life supposed to be this way?
People never enjoying the journey to get to where they are going. All the missed opportunities along the way.So that begs the question.
How do we get so busy that we over book ourselves or we just haven't learned to say no?
Many times in life we say yes to some really good things and therefore leaving no time to the better things. Eternal things. Things that have eternal rewards.

I remember back not too too long ago in my student ministry days, I would say yes to EVERYTHING. Can ou come to my ball game? Can ou come see me dance? Can you come to the football and watch the me in the band? Yes Yes Yes.......Wrong move. It seems like I was about to fall off a cliff and I woke up. Since that day, I ask myself, do I have time for this or not. Ya see, even Jesus needed some well deserved " J time aka: Jesus aka Daddy time" when He needed recharging or just clarity on His Fathers wishes. We call that God's will. I have heard thousand of people say, " I want to be safe right in the middle of God's will for my life". If you are doing God's will it is NOT always safe. Several times I have asked, they did they really say that or do they have any idea of what they just said. After I explained it they were like. I had no idea. God's will NOT always a safe place people. You see, God requires SURRENDER and most, if not all of us, are still working on that, I know I am.

So with all this being said said so far, I have to ask you these questions. Because the Bible tells us to examine ourselves and YOU probably have not done that in a very long time. So here we go, and I will go from #5 to the top question of #1.

#5 - Do you read your bible daily, maybe even a devotional? Yes /No

#4 - Are you plugged in to local church? I mean INVOLVED, not just sit on the back row and make a fast exit. Yes / No

#3 - Do you pray at least daily? I mean a no selfish prayer and pray for others? Yes / No

#2 - Have you ever accepted Christ as Lord and Savior? Yes / No

#1 - Do you TRULY love Jesus? Yes / No   He asked Peter that question multiple times and Peter still didn'y get it. Do you ?

If you were honest with your answers, that LIGHT BULB, should have gone off over your head.

So re-evaluate your priorities and give your time and attention to Jesus FIRST and make HIs Misson your mission, then let good works follow that have eternal meaning.And, if you need eternal things to do, email me at tim@lifechurchconnect.com  or tcmlive@gmail.com.  We have plenty of ideas to share.

till next time, peace

tc

Guys - Our Brains & Protecting Our Holiness

Wed, Feb 8, 2012
Guys - Our Brains & Protecting Our Holiness

I clearly remember receiving a book from my Youth Pastor Kevin, that asked and answered many questions about God, sin, and living right. For reasons I will not expound on, I went straight to the questions on sexuality and the human body. (Where else would a 15 year old boy look?!) I remember how the answer to the question about masturbation began to challenge my thoughts about God and legalism and where God really focuses.

As I read how lusting in our hearts after a woman equaled the same as physically committing adultery (Matthew 5:28), it slowly started to register that all the talk of God as someone who sits around only watching and tallying what we actually do does not even come close to the image of a Creator who desperately cares for our holiness and purity in thought as well as deed.

God gives humanity a wonderland of genuine pleasures to enjoy. What God means for the good of a relationship between a man and a woman, humanity certainly corrupts through masturbation and pornography. Young men, these acts change how we treat young women. The brain begins to focus on the act and not the person and God meant for sexual intercourse to be a personal connection between two people who have committed to become one…for life…until death do you part. The nature of how we become aroused, a perfectly natural response to attraction, begins to become warped. Research shows that chronic pre-marital masturbation and pornography use can affect a man’s sexual abilities with his wife…not to mention you rob your marriage of a level of intimacy. Essentially, the God given desires of attraction become corrupted through incorrect application.

How does this break God’s heart for the health of our spirits? God cares about our thoughts and desires. Our character does not consist of the results of our physical deeds alone. What we think and dwell on shapes who we are and who we become. The Apostle Paul encouraged the church at Philippi to consider whatever was true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable…anything worthy of praise and to dwell on those things (Phil. 4:8).

Our spiritual health matters to God…we call this holiness. So when we think about sin, especially when it comes to sexual purity, let us remember that our Father in heaven does not count our mistakes to beat us down with them. Instead, He watches over us hoping we choose the good in life that He meant us to enjoy.

Today’s Posting Contributed by Pastor Shawn Hornsby, First UMC –West Monroe shawn@fumcwm.org

Where have all the knights gone…

Posted on February 7, 2012 by abbiberry

Where have all the knights gone…

I had one of my students at church ask me recently “Abbi Berry… where have all the knights in shining armor gone? Is chilvary really dead? Do all boys act gross or say perverted things?” Those questions started my wheels to turning and I began asking myself some added questions… “Where have all the fair maidens gone? Is lady-like behavior dead?” Hmmmm…
There was a day when boys learned how to behave in front of girls & how to treat girls before they became young men. There was also a day when girls acted like they wanted to be respected & treated like the young ladies they were.
I think society has definitely done each generation a disservice by dumbing down our kids… but I also think Dads & Moms have done their own children a disservice as well by not teaching them appropriate behavior when around the opposite gender. There are some things you should NOT talk about when in front of the opposite gender… but sadly I hear it all the time.
Forget about dressing modestly for a second… what’s the point in personal dress codes if your mouth isn’t modest?
I know, I know. “Lighten up, Mrs Abbi. Gah. We’re just joking around.” Okay. Fine. But I don’t want my daughter going out with some BOY who thinks it’s ok to make flippant remarks about the female body. I want her to date a young man who respects her for the treasure she is, who treats her as valuable, precious & sacred – because young men like that are the ones that will guard not just her heart but her mind.
So I said all of that to say this: Dudes that I have the privilege to know personally & those I don’t… consider every word that leaves your lips. Are they words that are worth listening to? Are they the words from a man of character, a man who is made body, soul, heart & mind in the image of a holy, magnificent God? If you are in a dating relationship, do you treat that young lady like the dwelling place of God that she is? Do you guard her heart & mind with every fiber of your being? That’s who God created you to be. A warrior – not a child. Step up & lead this generation of young men towards their God-ordained destiny.
Ladies… do you see yourself as valuable, treasured & precious. The majority of guys will treat you according to how you see yourself. Do you wanna attract punks? Speak loosely. Act inappropriate. Wear as little clothing as possible. Carry yourself in a provocative manner. They will swarm like flies to a piece of meat… and they will drain you, use you, then toss you out like yesterday’s leftovers. BUT if you want a knight in shining armor… be modest not just in dress but in action & word. Robe yourself in humility & compassion. Wear love for others as your perfume. Live in a way that says “My heart isn’t a plaything for careless little boys. My heart is the future crowning glory for a man after God’s own heart.”
Why is this heavy on my heart? Because guys… you are the example for the small boys that my daughter might date one day. They watch you. They listen to you. They want to be you. Be a hero… show them what a real man is. There are so few of them left in the world today.
Girls… my daughter is watching. One day in the near future, as hard as I try, I just won’t be totally relevant to Layla. She will adopt a mentor closer to her age. Maybe one of you will be that girl. She will watch you. Listen to you. Learn to be you. Show her that virtuous women don’t have to just be gray-haired Mommas or Mamaws. Show her what it means to patiently wait on God’s man.
Why? Because I want my daughter to be able to say that she allowed God to write her love story, thanks to the epic example of a few good men & women.
Peace.
Abbi Berry