What about signs that you need to get back to healthy eating spiritually?  Here’s a few I thought of:  bad attitude, crabby, extreme sarcasm, negative outlook on life, lack of spiritual energy and desire to serve, selfishness.  You can make your own list, but I believe these reveal a need to push away from the TV, toxic relationships, gossip magazines, and other nonsense and pick up the Bible.  You know the adage – “Garbage in, garbage out.” 

So, what kind of diet changes do you need to make?  Have you had too much fun with things like ice cream over the summer and need to get healthy physically?  Or, are their mindless hours wasted in front of the TV, or discussions with “friends” that lead to negative thoughts? 

What are some things you need to take out of your life and what do you need to put in its place?

According to 2 Corinthians 5:20 every believer has been selected to represent the kingdom of heaven on the earth.  What an awesome privilege and what an awesome responsibility. 

Be careful not to squander your appointment and give the kingdom you represent a bad name.

Here are some I’ve heard:  “I would really be able to do something great for God if it weren’t for my kids.”  Or, “I’m just waiting on God right now to bring the right job to me.”  This 0ne is good for those not wishing to get involved, “I would love to volunteer, but I’m just so busy.”  What are these?  Excuses. 

Who are we trying to fool with them, ourselves, those we’re talking to, or even God?  Instead of making excuses, why don’t you step up and make some commitments?  Excuses won’t win a war, stop a depression, help a neighbor, or eradicate poverty and human suffering. 

I know actually doing something might seem harder than just making excuses, but it’s not near as rewarding.

Our problem is we think WE come up with the great ideas, the astounding revelations and discoveries.  Paul brings us back to reality by saying, “All you really are is a jar of clay and it’s what’s inside that counts.” 

What’s in your jar?

1. Pray about it.  Get wisdom from God.  James 1:5
2. Be in agreement with your spouse about what to do.  Discuss it and come to an agreed upon decision. 
3. Analyze the temperament of your child.  Are they a follower or leader?  Do they drift toward the “wrong” friends? 
4. What do others say about the schools you’re considering? 
5. At the end of the day, it’s not a do or die situation.  If you don’t like what’s going on, you can always switch your child later.  Of course you need to discuss it with them ahead for them to buy into that idea even though it’s not theirs to make in the end. 

 The decision on whether to home school, or send your child to public or private is strictly a personal choice.  What is good for one family, may not work for another.  Likewise, what is good for one child may not be for another.  Just like all other parental decisions you have to make between now and high school graduation, you just do the best you know to do and trust God with the rest.

Here’s my worst problem: Christians that lie!  How is that possible?  Can you be a truly devoted follower and tell lies?  I believe that Seth is right on when he says it starts with “little lies.”  Jesus said it like this, “If someone can be trusted with little they can be trusted with much.”  In other words, if you can’t tell the truth about little things, I’m not trusting you with ANY thing else!

How do we build more credibility?  Start telling the truth in the little things and the bigger things will follow.  It’s the little foxes that spoil things according to the Bible.  Hold yourself accountable to tell the truth in the everyday mundane responses to people.  Don’t lie and say, “I’ll pray about that,” if you have no intention of doing so.  It would be better to say, “That’s too bad, I hope it turns out okay,” rather than promising something you won’t deliver. 

Let’s keep it honest people!  Anybody else bothered by the lack of virtues?

There’s another reason I like to get together for the staff birthdays – it’s to honor them.  I want them to know how much I appreciate the sacrifice of time and treasure to serve our church family.  They could make more money working in the secular world than in ministry, but they do it for Him and us! 

Birthdays are a great time to express appreciation to those who mean a lot to us.  Think about who you need to honor.  What special day could you invent to let them know they’re appreciated?  Is there a gift card, baked item, balloons, dinner,  flowers or something else you need plan to give?  It’s always a great day to show honor.  (Here’s a side benefit – God says what you sow you reap!)

Romans 12:10  “Honor one another above yourselves.”

                Are they modeling character qualities you admire?

                Are they going anywhere in their lives at the moment?

                Do they look like they will ever get anywhere in their lives?

                Do they constantly look at the negative and complain?

                Are they always blaming others and refusing responsibility?

 If you can’t answer these in a positive way about the people your friends with, then show them the door.  You don’t have to be mean.  You don’t have to have a superiority attitude.  You don’t have to get emotional.  It is a rational decision.  In light of where you want to go with your life, who do you need to get out of your life? 

 If you’ll make the change, God will bring new friends into your life.  Friends that aren’t out to manipulate you, they want to celebrate you.

Every week, nearly 200 children are fed, clothed and cared for at this center.  We so thankful for our partnership with Mission of Mercy to have been able to construct this facility. 

Here are ways you can help send those who are going:

1. Pick up a copy of needed supplies in the lobby and drop them off.
2. Give in this weekend’s offering “Love the Dominican” to help in the $6000 expense of the wall.
3. Pray for the team until the return to be safe and used of God in a mighty way.

Thank you to all the team members who have responded to God’s call to go on this trip and make a difference in another part of the world!

There are certain things that pull from you and it is vital to identify them.  When you don’t know what they are, then your oblivious to the fact that energy and vitality is being sucked right out of you.  What happens is that after about 3, 4, or 5 months, you will find that you are really running on empty.  Before you know it, you are on the edge and you are living a margin-less life.  You are still going to work, church and school, but it’s not enough because of the constant drain on you. 

A marriage going bad, struggles with your kids, finances in a mess, or relationship issues can cause a major drain.  Even though you may not have an immediate answer for these, you must make sure you are replenishing from positive sources. 

What drains me?  Excessive counseling.  When I have to sit and do a lot of counseling, back-to-back, it just drains me.  Some of it is because I feel I take my time to give advice and then people leave my office and do what they want to do anyway.  Also, negative people drain me.  The constant complaining, griping and meandering through life with no desire to succeed.  I get away from these people as fast as I can.  

If God is saying that those are some drains on your life and you are not able to get rid of them right now, then you must be sure that you are having things that fill your tank.  Work it into you schedule so that you keep margins in your life. 

Do you know what your drains are?