Do You Take Out Time To Listen To God?, By Courtney

Do You Take Out Time To Listen To God?

By Courtney S.

Cell Phone

Alarm Clock

Ipod

T.V.
Mp3
Friends
GOD

Is God at the bottom of your list? It seems that in an electronic filled world that God almost always comes last. Our lives are filled with noise and distraction. It seems that if something is isn't loud it doesn't get our attention.

For example:

During the summer my little sister had rented a Harold and the Purple Crayon DVD from the library. On the show Harold doesn't talk. Basically, none of the characters talk. Something about the quiet annoyed me. I asked my mom to turn it off. I had gotten tired of listening to complete silence.

Today, in my youth group my teacher showed us a video. The video started off with the host flipping channels and talking. When he finished there was complete silence for about 1 minute just in that short period all of us 5th-8th graders were sitting around squirming in our seats. Just then on the screen popped up the words:  Why does silence bother you? 

It was kind of scary, but it made me realize that more people than you think have a problem with silence. Why? What is so bothersome?  In the Bible God normally speaks to his followers in the silence. In 1 Kings 9 - 13. God comes to Elijah as a small voice after all of these louder, bigger, things happen. Here is the NIV version of 1 Kings 11 - 13.

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

The wind, earthquake, and fire were all louder than God's voice. If God spoke to you in a whisper would you hear Him? Or would you be busy listening to your Ipod and not able to hear him.

Think about it. If you have on loud music, the T.V., and you're instant messaging your friends can you hear your mom calling you to dinner? No. You can't, and her voice is literally audible. God typically speaks to your heart and mind. If your mind is constantly busy, then you won't be able to hear God. In preschool, you would have to take naps. Now, most 8-21 year olds don't have time for naps. They're too busy. I know I am, but it can be done. When you're riding to soccer practice just be silent, or when you're driving to your part-time job be silent. Pray to God He'll help you.

Remember God Loves You and wants to hang out with you.

Is your heart in it? By Allison A.

Is your heart in it?

By Allison A.

There have been many times when I've read the Bible because I felt like I had to, or like I should. Usually when I'm done reading for the day, I make a goal for myself based on what I have just read. Maybe it's "control your tongue" or "have faith in God". Whatever the case, I usually go on with my day and forget my goal. If I had really cared about fulfilling this goal, I would have tried harder to let it not be forgotten. The difference is that my heart wasn't in it. Sometimes, this is what we lack. We don't always have the heart to take the next step, to let God lead us to where He wants us to be. You have to step out of your comfort zone sometimes!

I'm not saying this is easy. I go to a church camp every year, where I attend lessons about how to improve in my walk with God. I take notes and make goals at camp, but when it's all over, I don't usually change the things that I was going to change in my character. It's because my heart wasn't in these goals. I often come up with these goals without a plan to actually fulfill them, but what good does that do?

Colossians 3:23-24 reads, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Don't let yourself walk aimlessly throughout life! When you work with all your heart, then you're getting somewhere. Once your heart is in it, let God lead you into the next chapter of your life.

He Is Coming Soon, By Joy W.

He Is Coming Soon

By Joy W.

What attitude do you show towards the things of God or God himself? The one who made you your creator Genesis 1: 27 don’t you think it’s time you psych your mind and give your life to Christ? If even the scientists are coming to believe that God is real do u think you have an excuse? You don’t have.
Look at the sun that shines in the morning, what it leans on and who even times it as to when it should set and go down. The birds that fly in the air, who feeds them? Fishermen always go and fish but the fishes in the see never get finished. Nobody waters the grass but it grows. He created the earth and everything therein and watches over it. He determines it’s functioning. Look at the sea no matter how it overflows it will never overflow it boundaries do you know what blocks it? The night comes and goes do u have an idea where it resides? Doesn’t all these amaze you doesn’t it tell you anything? Job 38 and 39 says it all.
We plough the fields and scatter the good seeds on the land, but it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hands. He sends the snow in winter and the warmth to swell the grain the breezes and sunshine and soft refreshing rain. All the good things around us are sent from Heaven above. He is also the maker of all things bright and beautiful, near and far, paints the wayside flowers and lights the evening star.

If you sleep and wake up each morning it’s not magic and it’s not because you must wake up it’s not magic. Its grace and it’s because he is still waiting for you to let him into your life. Behold I stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice and open up I will come in and dine with him and he with me. You don’t have any excuse and it is only the fool who says there is no God Psalm 14: 1
You need no other argument or plea to give your life to Christ. You have to leave everything behind you and come to Christ because he is coming soon. Heaven is so real and so is Hell. Learn to forgive one another. It will surprise you that the little things you don’t pay attention to are the very things that will pull you down. What do you hold against one another that you can’t forgive?

If you were in the only one left at home and God appeared to you asking you to come with him to Heaven wouldn’t you leave the house key behind where the household will find it and go? You have no excuse why you are not going to church. Repent and watch your actions. The little things you do and you think are nothing counts, forgive one another. Whether you believe it or not JESUS IS COMING SOON, it could be tomorrow, today or even now. DON’T MAKE A MISTAKE. Isaiah 55: 6 seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Tomorrow may be too late. He is the way the truth and the light, no one goes to the father except through him John 14:6