people.

What would you say distracts you the most from God?

What is the core issue when it comes to forgetting your Savior?

People.

What about people?

your neighbor comes over too much

your husband keeps you on your toes

your sister doesn't give you privacy

your wife is naggy

your brother asks you to do too much

your mom doesn't understand

your friend always complains

your dad doesn't care?

I'm sure you have more issues than that small list.  I do.

I think we blame people for keeping us from our quiet times, bible studies, or worship services more than the stuff we have or the things we want.  Yes, those can be distracting, but people . . . oh man.  They're the worst.

Guess what!?

They're the reason we're here.  And they're the reason we have trouble completely focusing on God.

Why are they so distracting?

Is it because they're

annoying

                    needy

whiny

                                                they don't understand

they talk too much

                                              they ask for too much

they take too much

                                                they don't give anything

they aren't patient

                                                     they don't try hard enough

they don't do it my way

                                                                           they don't care about what I have to say

they aren't what I want?

I find myself asking questions like . . . 

God, why did you put me here with these people?

Why do I, who try SO MUCH HARDER than they do, have to put up with this?

Why can't they just get it like me?

Somebody call the whaaaaa-bulance.

Since when was everyone put on this earth for ME?

The reason our prayers become hindered is because we don't love them.

The reason we can't concentrate in church is because we aren't patient with them.

The reason we get so angry so fast because we forget all that God did for us.
 

God says that to be known as His children we must love like His son.

 Don't we want to be known as God's kids?

Don't we want everyone to see how far He's gone to bring us to redemption?

What we don't always understand is that by loving others, we're telling God how grateful we are. It's actually the best way to tell God that we're thankful for His gift.

He loved sinners. Just like you. Just like me. Just like that person that you have issues with.

How radical would is be to show love to someone who doesn't deserve it?

As radical as the cross.

Next time someone is forcing you to focus on them and not yourself, let them.
Next time you're annoyed or angry, remember that Jesus died for those sinful feelings too.
And love people in return.

After all, they are your biggest love note to God.

far.

Have you ever just felt far away?

Out of the grand scheme of things?

On the outskirts?

Maybe just left out?

Almost like you're missing something that everyone else seems to be getting?

Maybe you know what it is you're missing, yet you refuse or are simply too lazy to take the steps to experience it.  Maybe you've been apart of a purpose, but you gave up, bailed out, forgot.

I know I have.

I've given up on my Jesus as many times as He was scarred on the day His blood spilled for me.

I've forgotten what it felt like to be loved by a God who loves me more than the very depth of the universe.  I've left behind a Savior who left only a bloody tree behind as He took His throne in Heavenly robes.

I've sold out to the world.  I've run so far away from Him that there were times I doubted He would come for me.

But He did.

And He does.

And He always will.

Every time I run.  Every time I fear.  Every time I doubt.  He holds His hand out. He remembers.  He has courage.  He gives love, grace and mercy. He extends and offers something that surpasses all the things that we think separate us from Him.  He goes so far past them that they're soon forgotten all together.

His grace. His love. It all reaches past every one of

                                                                              Our fears.

                                     Our worries.

                                                                                                                        Our longings.

                                                                        Our doubts.

                                             Our selfishness.

                                                                                                                                 Our debt.

Our sin.

Period.

He offers all He has to give us the one thing we lack.
Life.

So then why do we run? Why do we fear? Why isn't time with Him the most important thing in our busy schedules?  Why are His words tossed around as "just a book?"  Why do we shout His name in church, yet shout at a brother in selfish rage?  Why do we forget?

Complacency.
We take Him for granted.  We do like our fathers and our mothers.

We feel entitled, deserving, prideful, holier than . . .  After all, we are better than so-and-so.  We don't do this and this. We go to church.  We pray occasionally.  We deserve a life that lasts forever.  We deserve it easy.  We deserve it fun.  And we deserve it now.

False.

We deserve death, no matter how we try and slice it.  A "little" sin leads to death. A "big" sin leads to death.
We lie.  Death.  We covet.  Death.
We lust.  Death.  We fear.  Death.
We worry.  Death.  We forget.  Death.
We deserve it and we bring it on ourselves every moment of everyday.


If Eve didn't eat it, one of us would have.

If we deserve Hell and we're offered a way out, why do we doddle on the fence of insecurity?  Even seasoned Christians can find themselves wandering.  What can we do to stop complacency and chase after a

   holy

fearless

     daring

righteous

      crazy

passionate

       pure

fiery
                 satisfying

                 joyful

wild

                    purposeful

adventurous

                  fulfilling

rock-a-rolling

   Jesus centered lust of a life?

Yes. It's hard.  Yes. It's difficult.  Yes. It will cost your life.  But what's mere life compared to a lifetime spent in love with the creator of that waterfall, these canyons, those skies, that man, and this girl?  Who would turn down an invitation from a perfect Lord?

Yet           don't         we          do          it             every         day?

I guess I'm just wondering why.

"Come near to God and he will come near to you" James ch. four v. eight.


"She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them." Hosea ch. two v. seven.


"Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"" Matthew ch. fourteen v. thirty one.