Ask

ASK

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

It's hard to get help if you don't ask for it. Many people go through life battling addictions, struggles, problems, issues, and don't get help, because they don't ask.

Why? Well sometimes we are afraid. We don't want people to look down on us or judge us. Sometimes we are ashamed, because we feel like know one would understand. Sometimes we are embarrassed, other times it could be pride. We don't want to admit we need help or don't have the answers? There are many reasons people don't ask, but none of them are good.

We cannot get help with anything, if we aren't willing to ask. We have to remove the anxiety, fear, pride, or denial out of the way if we are ever going to overcome any challenge in our lives. Whether we have a personal struggle, addiction, problem, or issues because of someone else, we have to be willing to ask for help.

It may be asking a friend to pray for us, it may be asking a trusted friend for advice or counsel. It may be going and talking to a pastor, therapist, or counselor. It depends on your need and issue, but regardless, you can't get help until you ask. Most of all we need to ask God for direction and help. God is our ultimate source of help.

If we do not get help, many of us will become bitter, resentful, paranoid, judgemental, angry, depressed, jump to conclusions, defensive, isolate ourselves, push people away, and many other types of emotion, feelings, and actions if we do not seek the appropriate help at the right time.

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. Go to God. Let God help you. Let Him lead you to other resources that you might need. Whether it's relationships, jobs, family, divorce, or death issues, or addictions such as, drugs, sex, or alcoholism, or anything in between that you cannot handle alone.

Get Help. Ask for Help. Half the battle is admitting you need help, the other half is asking for it.

Troubles

TROUBLES

2 Corinthians 4:17(NIV)

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

It seems like life has no shortage of troubles, in my case, it seems like we have had more than our share of troubles the past year. The thing is we live in a world that's in trouble. We live in a world with troubled people, and therefore troubled people cause trouble.

Unfortunately, for us, we have to live with the troubles of others. At times, people may have to live with our troubles.

We can control some of the troubles in our lives, stop getting into trouble, stop being trouble, and stop causing trouble, and if we do our part, there will be less trouble. But, regardless of our part, we are still at times going to suffer at the hands of other people.

You are there with me aren't you? You have suffered because of a parent, a child, an ex-spouse, a co-worker, a sibling, a trusted friend? We've all been there in some form or fashion.

The key is not whether we are going to have trouble, but more when? We need to expect it, and prepare for it, but most of all we have to endure and overcome it. We can't control how other people act.

We can however, take our troubles to the Lord. God is bigger than any troubles we ever face, whether they are our own mess or something someone else has created. I understand it's very easy to get stressed, feel overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, wronged, and all those different feelings and emotions.

The key for me and you is to give those things to the Lord. To trust in His justice and care. God will protect, provide, and defend us in His time, His way, and according to His will. If our troubles are self-inflicted then our first step should be to accept ownership and repent. If it's at the hands of others, we mus t turn to God and allow Him to work in our lives.

No matter your troubles, give it to God. Trust Him. Wait for Him. And allow Him to work in the situation and during that time, we pray, we trust, we have faith, and we wait on the Lord.

Distractions

Distractions

Psalm 41:6(NIV)

When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.

It's very easy in this world to be distracted by all the negative people in our lives. There are no shortage of people who are so hurt, angry, bitter, resentful, or selfish and they seem to want to take out their poison on others even those they are supposed to love and care about.

First, we need to avoid these types of people whether they are co-workers, related, or whatever. It's one thing for someone to have a bad day or weak moment, but it's another when people have a lifestyle of this negative behavior. If we are not careful it will be toxic in our lives and causes us damage.

We do not need these types of disctractions in our lives. They bring us down, keep us upset, cause constant turmoil and chaos, and is really unhealthy long term on our lives.

We can't always avoid distractions, but it's important that we are pro-active in allowing things in our lives to distract us from our spouses, our children, our careers, and especially our walk with God.

Satan is working 24/7 to create distractions in our lives so that we will take our eyes of God, disobey God, and become so busy or focused on anything other than god. Truth is however, that if we keep our focus on God, we will never be distractetd by negative people or things.

Life is too short, to waste our lives on distractions, especially those that are unhealthy. You cannot change anyone, they must change themselves. You cannot help those that aren't willing to help themselves. We must use wisdom in discerning when it's time to help and when it's time to avoid. When it's time to show patience and when it's time to walk away.

No matter what the distraction, we must strive to keep our eyes on God and allow God to work through us and to get us through whatever it is we face.

Don't be misled by Satan. He uses things, places, events, and especially people to distract us from the truth and what's right, and most of all God. Don't be fooled and don't be led astray. Most of all we've got to rid ourselves of distractions, so that we can focus on the life God wants us to live and the life He wants to give us.

Playing Games

Playing Games

I recently preached on this theme at a youth service. The idea that we live in a world of entertainment and we play, participate, and watch a lot of games. Whether it's video games, board games, computer games, or athletics we play, watch, or watch on TV.

We love to be entertained. However, the problem is life isn't a game. There is no secret code to get extra lives, there is no do-overs, no reset button. This life is all we got. 1 life, 1 opportunity, 1 chance, and 1 lifetime to live.

Many people live their lives treating it as if it's a game. Living for nothing but self. Self-seeking, self-pleasure, self-medicating, and self-centered. Others live their lives not taking anything serious and treating life like it's a joke. While others who have entered a relationship with God realize that this life is only temporary and that we are preparing for an eternity. With that in mind it should motivate us to treat this life different.

It's very easy to go through life non-stop a 1oo miles an hour, work way too many hours, stay way too busy, and miss so much of life. People ruin marriages, ignore kids, and never relax chasing the almighty dollar. Others refuse to work, are lazy, expect handouts, and never do anything with their lives. Others, take, take, take, and never give. Some, go through life trying to find meaning in sex, drugs, alcohol, thrills, etc..and missing the purpose and meaning of why we were created. Some only live for now, never preparing for tomorrow.

I'm not sure what category you fit in, I'm sure there are more. No one enjoys laughter more than me. God wants us to enjoy our lives, but God never created us or this world for this to be our only joy. God wants us to enjoy a relationship with Him and He wants us to prepare and look forward to an enternity of Joy with Him in Heaven. We need to take our soul serious!

I pray that you won't play games with your soul. Don't risk eternity for temporary pleasures and gains. There is nothing in this world, that is worth that. No high, No amount of money, no pleasure, and no success in this world, is worth throwing away your soul and eternity.

Don't play games with your life. Use it wisely. Make the most of your time on this earth. Love others. Serve God. Learn, grow, and seek God. You can still enjoy this life and have fun, but include God. Center your life around Him, dont' try to fit him into your life or schedule. Fit your life and schedule around Him. Don't play games with your life. Find life in God.

Psalm 16:11

(NIV)You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.