Wonderful teaching on Sunday

Sunday's sermon was one of the best ones I've ever been to. Not only was the lesson absolutely fantastic, but the place we had the service was an awesome example of God's marvelous creation. The power was out in our regular building, so we had the service at one of the members house in their back yard. It was gorgeous, lots of trees for shade, and everyone sat on quilts on the ground. The breezes, the birds, insects...it was all just a constant reminder of God's presence among us.

So, the sermon was...well, I can't really think of a name actually! My notes seemed to be, one of the preachers sentences, with a lot of my thoughts added in.

I find it amazing how talky and angry people can get nowadays. The Bible tells us that we are to be slow to anger, and slow to speak. If we think about it a little bit, if we're always talking or mad, how will we be able to hear God's guidance, His still small voice speaking to us when we are in need of it? We rush around with our lives, and "don't have time" to go talk with God or even just listen to Him...then complain about how terrible everything is going. Is there really any sense in that? We are so stubborn about doing everything for ourselves, and are VERY good at saying we don't need any help, then when we mess up, who do we blame it on? Of course, God. I think..well, let me write something else before I say this.

We have a relationship with God, sometimes it can be sort of hard, because He's to be like our Father, best friend, leader, judge...there are SO many things God is to us, and I think we all get a little bit confused as to what He is. Mostly, He's to be treated with the love and respect that we would have for a dear friend. Here are four good examples.

1. You meet someone and really think they'd make a great friend, you seem to have a lot of the same interests and such. However, after you first meet them, you don't every try to get in touch again...it was a short lived friendship.

2. You meet someone new, talk for awhile and learn they're a doctor! You remember this the next time you or a friend has a health problem, so you call them up to see if they can help. No friendly calls, they only hear from you because you really need them right then.

3. You meet someone, find out you have lots in common and really enjoy your talk. You tell yourself, and them, that' you'll keep in touch. Well, your life just gets terribly busy, and you make a call...maybe once a month, maybe every few months...but you just don't have the time for them that you'd like.

4. You meet a person, sit and learn about who they are, what they like, and just all about their life. Once the two of you part ways, you keep in touch...you call or see them daily! You truly love this person, and would go help them out whenever they needed it, no matter the time or day, and know they'll do the very same for you. You are true friends and know you can count on each other, and are always there for one another.

Which one of these do you think should be the kind of relationship we have with God? We forget quite often that to have that sort of friendship (number 4) it has to go both ways for it to work right. God is ALWAYS here for us, He loves us more than anyone ever will, and He SO wants to keep in touch with us! The question is, are we there for God when He asks us to do something, do we love Him with all of our hearts, and lastly...DO we keep in touch with Him? Do we want to, are we too busy, do we not know what to say...why aren't we giving God the kind of friendship He's trying to give us?

Our faith is shown by our walk. We say we believe Gos is in control, but at the first sign of trouble, so we stay and do what we SAY we believe, or do we run and hide. Do we REALLY believe, and live a life that shows, God is in control?