Are Christians Too Busy To Spend Time For God?

We live in a busy society. Schedules full of activities and meetings. Agendas that have to be met. Deadlines for projects that have got to be finished be a certain time. Students have homework that has to be done and finals to study. Kids have soccer, baseball, tennis, and numerous other activities. When society gets a break they spend time the movies, ballpark, golfing, and other hobbies.

Do we schedule time for God? Do we make God a priorities in our busy lives? Do we stop long enough to pray? Do we slow down to read and meditate upon his word? Even as minister in preparing for sermons do we stop to just read for our own personal growth? The average time most Christians make for God during the week is 1 hour a week to God. About the length of a show on television. Jesus shows us countless times as he retreats to the mountian to spend time alone with God that it is important slow down, retreat, to make time for God. It is important for us to as Christians to not too busy for God.

A great book I recommend is "Too Busy Not To Pray" by Bill Hybels.
1 Year Bible

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What do you think?

Be Holy

God's word calls us to a higher calling than the world. It tell us in 1 Peter 1:15-16 "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." Do we give excuse for our sin? Do we say to the world well, "we are all hypocrites so why not be hypocrites with us?" Should there be a difference between us and the world? You look at Colossians 3:9b-ff "Since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly love clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

We are called be a holy people. Not self righteous but understanding because of the grace that we have received at the cross Christ makes us disciples and has called us to live the life he has lived. He wants us to take up our cross. He want our commitment. He wants us to show the world what Kingdom people are like.

The questions I have are we teaching the members in our congregations, Christians to be holy, to live a committed life in Christ? Are we preaching Christian virtues and character that Christ expects from us? Are we preaching a respect for God and Christ as we have that daily relationship? Do we understand how costly that the grace of God is that we dare say, "join us hypocrites." Does Christ want Christ want to be hypocrites to the world? Is that how we make a difference? What does that do to the world and the Church? How does it harm? Do Christians know what it means to be holy in our world today?

Yes we do sin and make mistakes, slip up, but we must keep in step with the Spirit. Walk in the light as he is in the light. (1Jn). The world needs to see the difference between us and them. Let us offer them the grace and love of God that they see in us.

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Praying for Virginia Tech Students, Famlies, Staff

I hope and pray that you will find the strength and comfort that God abundantly gives during times of suffering, loss, confusion and stress. I pray that God will give you a double portion of His love and grace. I hope and pray the He will close your hears and hearts to the Media and Televangelists and others who say, "that God caused this to happen because of" or "question why a loving God would cause or allow something like this to happen?" I pray this blessing upon you in days, weeks, and months to come as it says in the word of the Lord, "The Lord bless you and keep you; the LOrd make his face shine upon you and be graceous to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26
Amen!

I know the power of prayer in numbers. I am living, walking, proof.

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I Stood To Preach

I praise God for all that he has done in my life, especially the last six months. He has been with me, and has been my source of hope and strength. This past Sunday, I stood and preached for the length of the entire sermon. It was the first time had done that since November. I am getting stronger and stronger everyday. I still have weakness on the left side of my body. I still get tired real easy, pain and shaky from the GBS. My relationship with God is stronger than it has ever been before. I see life, my family, Christianity, Church, ministry, faith , God, in a very different way now. I praise God and thank him every second for giving me this new strength and life.

Victory Is Ours In The Risen Lord

As I write out my sermon for Sunday, thought of God's love and power go through my mind. As I preach on Luke 24:13-35 Jesus on the road to Emmaus, I see just how personal God wants to be with us. How close a relationship he want to have with each and every one of us. On this friday I think of songs such as: Power In The Blood; My Jesus, I Love Thee; When I Survey the Wondrous Cross; Near the Cross and many other. Love. Grace. Sacrifice. Do we as Christians understand the cost? Sacrifice?

On Sunday, Death turned into Victory. Bondage turned unto freedom. Praise God! We have power through the Risen Savior! Jesus is alive!
I want to challenge us to get to know God personally. Having a personal relationship with Jesus. Having your heart burn within you as the two men on the road to Emmaus.

Go and tell others about the good news of Jesus Christ, how he was Crufied and is Alive.
How have your eyes been opened?
How has your heart burned from within?
How can you or your congregation be a witness?
Now is the time.

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Happy Easter!